Frequently Asked Questions:
General FAQ
Parish/School/Ministry/Not-for-Profit FAQ
Giving/Donor FAQ
About Us
#iGiveCatholic was founded in 2015 as a giving day that kicks off the charitable season and brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back. In that same spirit, #iGiveCatholic Together was launched in March, 2020 to initially address the looming financial crisis facing our parishes, schools and ministries, and to accept much needed donations on an ongoing basis for these organizations affected by the pandemic. Over time, and with a Divine nudge, this platform has evolved to host online giving sites year-round for USCCB Office of National Collections, People of Life, The Catholic University of America National Collection, and arch/dioceses, as well as Catholic organizations and arch/dioceses that wish to host a giving day at a time of year that is not #GivingTuesday. The site continues to welcome and accept donations from generous donors in support of our Church across the country, and now, around the world.
#iGiveCatholic is a bishop-led initiative in partnership with lay leaders in Catholic philanthropy, and you can find our most recent 990 HERE.
Directors: Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond, His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, and Most Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz
Officers: Cory J. Howat (president), Scott Whitaker (vice-president), and Regina Templet (secretary/treasurer)
Staff: Lisa Schillace, national director; Anne Durney, program manager
General Questions
Q. What is #iGiveCatholic Together?
#iGiveCatholic Together is an online giving platform where individuals and businesses can give back to support the works of our Church at local, National, and International levels.
It is also an opportunity for Catholics to affirm our faith as disciples of Jesus Christ by sharing our gifts out of love for God and one another. The goal of #iGiveCatholic Together is to inspire the Catholic community to come together as faithful stewards and to "Give Catholic."
If your diocese is interested in being part of #iGiveCatholic Together, contact Lisa Schillace at lisa@igivecatholic.org.
Q. Who can participate in #iGiveCatholic Together?
All Catholic (c)3 parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries are eligible to host an online giving page or giving day, as well as Catholic arch/dioceses and foundations and other Catholic organizations.
Q. How does it work?
#iGiveCatholic Together is an online platform with searchable profiles for National and International Catholic initiatives to accept donations for participating Catholic apostolates. All donations will be processed through iGiveCatholicTogether.org.
Q. What is the difference between #iGiveCatholic Together and the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day?
#iGiveCatholic Together
For Catholics, generosity and giving have a profound meaning. We are called to share what we have been given in order to build the body of Christ and share His love with the world...one soul at a time. #iGiveCatholic Together asks the faithful to consider making a one-time or recurring gift so, together, we as Church can respond to the needs in our communities and in the world. Gifts can be made to many programs and organizations through #iGiveCatholic Together throughout the year.
#iGiveCatholic Giving Day
The first #iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday was held in 2015 within the Archdiocese of New Orleans, led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, then Secretary of the USCCB, and orchestrated by the Catholic Foundation for the Archdiocese for 112 of their parishes, schools and ministries. They wanted to encourage Catholic philanthropy and promote best practices in stewardship and development within all organizations of the Archdiocese. Their results were astounding, and the Giving Day has continued to grow in many ways throughout these past six years. As each of us reflect with grateful hearts on how blessed we are, we naturally want to give back to God from that deep sense of gratitude. Inspired into action by our grateful compassion, the faithful unite every year on #GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and this year November 28, 2023. On each #iGiveCatholic Giving Day, we share what we can with our favorite Catholic organizations to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, and preserve our Catholic heritage for future generations. Gifts can be made through the #iGiveCatholic Giving Day site beginning at midnight on November 13 through 11:59 pm on November 28, 2023.
If your arch/diocese, or Catholic foundation or organization is interested in joining either #iGiveCatholic for the annual Giving Day or #iGiveCatholic Together for a specific need or giving day at another time of the year, contact Lisa Schillace at lisa@igivecatholic.org.
Q. What are the #iGiveCatholic social media sites I can follow?
News and updates will be posted regularly to #iGiveCatholic’s social media sites:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iGiveCatholic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iGiveCatholic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igivecatholic/
Q. Are there sponsorship and funding opportunities?
Absolutely! We would love for you or your organization to join us as an #iGiveCatholic Together sponsor or funder! We have great opportunities for you to get involved. Email lisa@igivecatholic.org to learn more.
Parish, School, Ministry, Not-for-Profit FAQs
Q. What organizations are eligible for #iGiveCatholic Together?
All Catholic 501(c)3 parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries are eligible to participate as well as many national Catholic programs and organizations.
Q. What does it cost a parish/school/ministry/non-profit to participate in #iGiveCatholic Together?
The cost to participate or host a giving page in this platform varies depending on the program your organization wishes to conduct. Email info@igivecatholic.org to learn more!
Q. When will my organization receive its donations?
If you included banking information in your online registration profile, your organization will receive all donations via ACH distribution within 5 to 7 business days.
Q. Does my organization need to send letters to online donors for their tax deduction?
No. Online donors immediately receive an email from #iGiveCatholic Together confirming their gift. Note that all donations must be 100% tax deductible (no additional benefits.) However, this tax receipt is not a "thank you," and we highly encourage organizations to thank their donors as soon as possible.
Q. Will my organization receive donor information for acknowledgements?
Yes. Organizations have access to all donor information through a real-time donations report that can be accessed in your “Admin Dashboard” and downloaded to a .CSV file which can be imported into census or donor management programs. To log in to your Admin Dashboard, go to iGiveCatholicTogether.org and click “Menu” in the top right hand corner of the page. A drop down menu will appear. Click “Log In” to enter your email and password.
Q. I have technical questions - who can answer them?
#iGiveCatholic Together has partnered with the giving day platform, GiveGab/Bonterra. On the iGiveCatholicTogether.org website, use the blue chat bubble on the bottom right-hand corner of any page to ask questions Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern. You can also email them at questions@igivecatholic.org.
Giving/Donor FAQs
Q. Who can donate?
Anyone can donate! Because it is so convenient for people to give online to their favorite ministry from wherever they are in the world, most people will donate by this method. The site is mobile friendly and can be easily accessed for donations from your mobile devices.
Q. Can I give through #iGiveCatholic Together any time?
Yes. Anyone can donate to many of the participating parishes, schools, national organizations or ministries on any day of the week, at any time through iGiveCatholicTogether.org.
Q. Are gifts tax-deductible?
Yes. All donations are tax-deductible and irrevocable and will be for the designated use of your chosen charity.
Q. Do donors receive a tax receipt from the program, school, parish, ministry, or not-for-profit?
Online donors will immediately be sent an automatic tax receipt for their gift via email from #iGiveCatholic Together. If donors do not receive an email receipt, they should check their email “spam” folder, or the organization receiving the gift can resend one, or the donor can go back into their account and send one.
Q. Is there a minimum online gift?
Yes. However, the minimum online gift varies with each participating organization or arch/diocese.
Q. Is there a maximum online gift?
No, there is no maximum online donation.
Q. What if a donor can't find their favorite nonprofit on the website?
If the donor can't find the organization they want to donate to on the iGiveCatholicTogether.org website, it is likely that organization is not participating in #iGiveCatholic Together. However, if the date on which you are looking is close to Thanksgiving, you may want to go to igivecatholic.org and check to see if the organization you're searching for is participating in #iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday.
Q. Are there expenses associated with online donations to #iGiveCatholic Together?
All online donations will be paid to the chosen ministry net the payment of online fundraising expenses. Donations of $100 or more can be made as an ACH gift from a bank account. ACH fees total 3.4% plus $3.00. All fundraisers have expenses, and online fundraisers have less expenses than live events! Payment transaction expenses total 5.9% plus $0.30. Of this fee, 1.4% is for the templated marketing materials and training for the organization, 2% is for the platform technical support, technology and security costs, and 2.5% plus $.30 are the credit card costs. Donors have the option to cover these expenses at the time of donation, and they will receive a tax deduction on the full donation amount. Offline donations do not incur any transaction fees.
Q. Can I make my donation using my cell phone or tablet?
Yes. The site is mobile friendly and can be easily accessed for donations from all your mobile devices.
Q. What if I notice a transaction error?
Donors who notice a credit card transaction error must notify #iGiveCatholic by emailing questions@iGiveCatholic.org within 30 days.
Q. I have questions - who can answer them?
#iGiveCatholic Together has partnered with the giving day platform, GiveGab/Bonterra. On the iGiveCatholicTogether.org website, use the blue chat bubble on the bottom right-hand corner of any page to ask questions Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern. You can also email them at questions@igivecatholic.org.