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1. What is PayPal, and how is Westminster using it to  enable online donations?                                                                                                            PayPal allows us to collect donations from a button on our website. It is a low cost way for us to make it convenient for you to keep your pledge up-to-date, or, perhaps, send a donation when you cannot make it to church.

2. Why did you choose PayPal?
   It is the most widely-used donation provider and we have  confidence in its reliability. Also, it is inexpensive. In fact, we do not pay anything unless someone donates, and then PayPal retains a percentage of  the donation as a transaction fee.

3. Will the information I provide be kept private?
   We take your privacy very seriously. When you make a donation/payment, the church receives an email with your name, the information your provide about the purpose of your donation/payment (e.g. pledge, memorial fund, etc),  your physical address and your email address. The addresses may be used to contact you if there are any questions about your donation. Westminster Presbyterian Church never shares your information with anyone else. For more information see PayPal’s privacy policy.

4. Do I have to have a PayPal account?
   No.   Look for the button that allows you to choose to use a  major credit card (American Express, VISA, etc.) You can use one of them without  ever signing up for PayPal.

5. How secure is online giving/payments?
   PayPal is a secure way to make a payment with your credit or debit card because this information is only processed on PayPal’s secure system. The church never sees or has access to your credit card or bank account information. For a more comprehensive information see PayPal’s security overview.

6. Is there any charge or fee to me for this service?
   No. You select the dollar amount for your gift or payment. That is the dollar amount that will be charged and your entire donation is tax deductible. The church pays a nominal fee to PayPal for the convenience and security of the service.

7. Does 100% of my gift via PayPal go to Westminster?
   No.  With each donation, PayPal will take 2.9% plus $0.30 of that donation as a processing fee.  For example, if $100 is given, PayPal will take $2.90 plus $0.30 to pay for their processing.  Westminster would receive $96.80 of the original $100.00

8. How can I keep track of my online giving/payments?
   You will receive an annual giving statement from the church which lists all donations you have given (including online). If you have a PayPal account then you can also see a record of donations or payments by looking at your account history. All donations and payments using your credit card will show up on your credit card statement.

9. Are you encouraging people to borrow to support the church?
   No. We are simply making it convenient for people who prefer  to donate online to do so.  We would strongly discourage the practice of making church donations a part of consumer debt.

10. Do I have to be a member of the church to donate?
    No. We are grateful for support from all who feel motivated  to do so.

11. How do I make sure my donation is credited to the correct fund?
    There is a place on the contact form on the first donation page to designate whether your donation is for your pledge/general fund, memorial fund, or other purpose.  This contact form will generate an email to the church.

12. Is my donation tax-deductible?
    Yes. As tax a exempt organization, Westminster Presbyterian Church is qualified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to receive contributions from donors. Since qualified churches are not subject to federal income tax, these donations are tax-free to the church.  Donors, in turn, may be able to deduct their contributions to churches on their income tax return.

13. I cannot figure out how to make PayPal work.
    Please call the church office at 269-344-3966, and we will make every effort to assist you.