Online Giving
SoapBox provides secure, integrated online giving powered by Stripe. Accept donations, manage recurring gifts, and track giving all in one place.Setting Up Giving
Connect Stripe
1
Access Giving Settings
Go to Admin > Settings > Giving.
2
Connect Stripe
Click Connect Stripe Account.
3
Sign In/Create
Sign into existing Stripe account or create new one.
4
Authorize
Grant SoapBox permission to process payments.
5
Complete
Stripe is connected and ready.
Stripe Requirements
To connect Stripe, you’ll need:- Business information
- Bank account for deposits
- Tax ID (EIN for churches)
- Responsible person’s information
SoapBox uses Stripe Connect, which means your church has its own Stripe account. Funds go directly to your church’s bank account.
Giving Funds
Creating Funds
Set up different giving designations:- Go to Giving > Funds
- Click Add Fund
- Enter:
- Fund name
- Description
- Active/Inactive status
- Save
Common Funds
| Fund | Purpose |
|---|---|
| General Fund | Regular tithes and offerings |
| Missions | Global and local missions |
| Building Fund | Facility needs |
| Benevolence | Helping those in need |
| Youth Ministry | Youth programs |
| Special Projects | Specific campaigns |
Fund Settings
For each fund:- Set as default (General Fund)
- Enable/disable
- Set goal amount
- Show/hide progress
Processing Donations
How Donations Work
- Member selects fund(s) and amount
- Enters payment method
- SoapBox processes via Stripe
- Receipt sent automatically
- Funds deposited to your bank
Payment Methods
Accepted payment types:- Credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Discover)
- Debit cards
- ACH bank transfer
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Processing Fees
| Method | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| Credit/Debit | ~2.9% + $0.30 |
| ACH/Bank | ~0.8% (capped) |
| Apple/Google Pay | ~2.9% + $0.30 |
Recurring Giving
Member Setup
Members can set up recurring gifts:- Choose frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
- Select start date
- Set end date (optional)
- Modify or cancel anytime
Managing Recurring Gifts
As admin, you can view:- All active recurring gifts
- Upcoming scheduled donations
- Failed payment alerts
- Cancellation reports
Failed Payments
When a recurring payment fails:- Automatic retry (configurable)
- Member notification
- Admin alert
- Easy update for member
Giving Reports
Available Reports
| Report | Shows |
|---|---|
| Summary | Total giving by time period |
| By Fund | Giving breakdown by fund |
| By Donor | Individual giving history |
| Recurring | Active recurring gift summary |
| Trends | Giving patterns over time |
Running Reports
- Go to Giving > Reports
- Select report type
- Set date range
- Apply filters
- View or export
Exporting Data
Export giving data for:- Accounting software
- Year-end statements
- Board reports
- Audit purposes
Donor Statements
Year-End Statements
Generate tax statements:- Go to Giving > Statements
- Select year
- Choose all donors or specific
- Generate statements
- Email or print
Statement Contents
Statements include:- Donor name and address
- Church information
- Individual gift listing
- Total giving
- Tax-deductibility language
Delivery Options
- Email individual statements
- Print for mailing
- Enable self-service download
- Bulk generation
Giving Campaigns
Creating Campaigns
Special fundraising initiatives:- Go to Giving > Campaigns
- Click Create Campaign
- Enter:
- Campaign name
- Goal amount
- Date range
- Description
- Assign fund
- Publish
Campaign Features
- Progress tracking
- Public or private visibility
- Email updates
- Social sharing
- Celebration at goal
Example Campaigns
- Building fund drive
- Mission trip support
- Christmas offering
- Emergency relief
Giving Management
Adjustments
Make corrections as needed:- Refund donations
- Move between funds
- Correct donor attribution
- Add offline gifts
Manual Gifts
Record non-online donations:- Cash contributions
- Check donations
- Stock gifts
- In-kind donations
Donor Management
Maintain donor information:- Contact details
- Giving history
- Communication preferences
- Recognition settings
Settings & Configuration
General Settings
Configure giving options:- Minimum gift amount
- Allow anonymous giving
- Require account to give
- Enable/disable funds
Notification Settings
Configure automatic notifications:- Gift confirmation emails
- Recurring payment reminders
- Failed payment alerts
- Admin notifications
Fee Coverage
Allow donors to cover processing fees:- Optional add-on at checkout
- Percentage or fixed amount
- Customizable messaging
Security & Compliance
Payment Security
SoapBox + Stripe provides:- PCI DSS compliance
- Bank-level encryption
- Fraud detection
- Secure tokenization
Data Privacy
Giving data protection:- Limited staff access
- Encrypted storage
- Audit trails
- Privacy controls
Tax Compliance
Ensure proper documentation:- Receipt for every gift
- Annual statements
- No goods/services language
- Proper fund tracking
Best Practices
Make Giving Easy
Make Giving Easy
Reduce friction. Fewer clicks = more completed donations.
Thank Promptly
Thank Promptly
Automatic receipts are good. Personal thank-you notes are better.
Promote Recurring
Promote Recurring
Recurring giving creates stable income. Actively encourage it.
Report Regularly
Report Regularly
Share giving impact (not individual amounts) to encourage generosity.
Secure Data
Secure Data
Limit access to giving information. Respect donor privacy.
Year-End Planning
Year-End Planning
Remind members of year-end giving deadlines and tax benefits.