Instructions: Making Your First Gift with Pushpay

This article appeared in the Sunday bulletin for September 22, 2024.

St. John XXIII Parish thanks you for your continued generosity and dedication to our community. If you would like to give to the offertory this weekend, we ask that you consider using our new donation platform, Pushpay. Our goal was to complete the transition by this Sunday, September 22, but we’ve extended it by a few weeks to give more people a chance to make the switch.

If you want to give with Pushpay during Mass for the first time, here’s how it works:

​Quick Explanation

1. Scan the QR code or click the “Give with Pushpay” button at stjohn23evanston.org/give.
2. Enter the amount you want to donate and choose to make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift. (If you want to set up a recurring gift, select the frequency of the gift and enter the start date.) Finally, select the fund to which you’re making a donation.
3. Enter your phone number to receive a text with a six-digit verification code; enter the verification code.
4. Enter your name, email, and payment information; this will be saved for next time.
5. Confirm your gift and choose whether or not you want to help cover the cost of the transaction. Then make your donation and/or schedule your recurring gift!

Detailed Explanation

1. Scan the QR code on the sticker in front of your pew, or use your internet app to visit stjohn23evanston.org/give and click the red “Give with Pushpay” button.
2. Just under the word “Give,” type in the amount you would like to donate.
3. Choose whether you want to make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift. If you want to set up a recurring gift, select how often you would like to make the gift and the date on which you would like it to start. Note: The default starting date will always be the current day. If you are trying to set up, for example, a yearly Christmas gift, but you don’t want the first donation to come out until Christmas, you’ll need to set the starting date to 12/25/24 (or whichever date you choose).
4. Choose what fund you want your donation to go towards. The default is Weekly Offertory. If you would like to give to the weekly offertory using Pushpay instead of putting cash, a check, or an envelope into the offertory basket, leave Weekly Offertory selected. If there’s a second collection on a given weekend, the second collection will always be the second choice in the fund drop-down list.
5. Click the “Next” button.
6. Make sure your phone is on silent! Then enter your cell phone number and click “Next” again.
7. Within a few seconds, you should receive a text with a six-digit security code. Type those six numbers into the security code box and click “Confirm.” Note: Pushpay will ONLY text you codes to verify your identity and get you logged into your account. You don’t have to worry about annoying marketing texts or reminders!
8. Enter your name, email, and payment information. After this time, your information will be securely stored in your account, so you won’t need to enter those details again. Now take a bow, because you have a Pushpay account!
9. Confirm your gift and, if you are willing, choose to add 2.2% to your donation to help us cover the cost of the transaction. That’s only $0.22 on a $10 donation, but it adds up to be a big help to the parish!
10. Make your donation or set up your recurring gift!

What will be quicker the second time?
Next time, you won’t need to enter your name, email, or credit card information. You may be asked for your phone number so you can receive another verification text, but even if you are, that only takes a few seconds! Then you’ll jump straight from entering your gift to the confirmation and transaction cost screen (step 9). How easy is that?

Looking for a personal recommendation? Just ask Shelley Benson, Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council!

Thank you so much for your willingness to learn this new process with us. If you want to walk through the transition with someone, visit the parish office or give us a call at 847.864.1185!