How a gift moves
The charge is a direct charge on the church's connected Stripe account, so the church is the merchant. One-time gifts and recurring gifts are both supported. A receipt email with a PDF is sent for the gift.
The fees, in plain language
The app's own estimate uses Stripe's published standard US rates, not a nonprofit discount: 2.9% + $0.30 for a card, and 0.8% capped at $5 for a US bank transfer. Eligible nonprofits can apply to Stripe for Stripe's discounted rate. That discount is between the church and Stripe. The estimate in the app does not assume it was approved.
There is no Gathering monthly fee on top of those processing fees. Giving still requires a Stripe account the church controls. The Gathering does not hold the gift and pay it out later.
What this is not
This page does not promise a processing rate below Stripe's published standard rate, and it is not tax advice. Compare the shape of the product with what Tithe.ly and Pushpay publish about their own giving tools, and check their pages before you decide. Their prices change.
Questions pastors ask
What does online giving cost?
There is no platform fee right now. Gifts pay Stripe's standard processing fees. The app estimates 2.9% + $0.30 for cards and 0.8% capped at $5 for a US bank transfer.
Is a gift tax-deductible?
This page is not tax advice and does not say that gifts are tax-deductible. That depends on the church and the giver, not on a claim from The Gathering.
Who receives the money?
The church's own Stripe account. The Gathering does not hold the gift or add an application fee.
Do we need a Stripe account?
Yes. Giving uses a Stripe account the church controls. Eligible nonprofits can ask Stripe about a discounted rate. The app does not assume that rate was approved.