FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the benefits of a transactions account?
Your transactions account enables you to make online donations without having to enter your profile information each time. You can view your giving history and easily update your address and other profile information. Your transactions account will work at the WELS and WELS ministerial education school Web sites. Finally, your transactions account enables us to process your transactions with greater efficiency and accuracy.
To register, login and then select "New User Registration."
Can an organization submit gifts via these online donation pages, e.g., via a credit card issued to a church treasurer, school principal, etc.? Similarly, can an organization sign up for a transactions account?
Our donation pages allow us to credit online gift transactions only to an individual’s record in our database, not an organization’s record. There’s also a restriction that allows only individuals (not organizations) to register for an online transactions account. If you need to use your organization’s credit card to make a gift on behalf of your organization, please do so by calling WELS Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central). That way we can direct the gift onto your organization’s record in our database. If you have questions, feel free to call the number above or contact us.
I don't use U.S. currency. How can I make a gift?
This site uses U.S. currency, so you'll need to convert your currency to U.S. dollars. A currency converter is available on the XE Web site.
I live outside the US and state/province is a required field on the donation form. I’m not sure if my state/province is in the dropdown list. What should I do?
The state/province dropdown list displays abbreviations sorted alphabetically within the following ordered groups:
1. US states
2. US territories
3. Us military
4. Canadian provinces
5. Canadian territory
6. Other states/provinces that have been requested by previous donors
To check if the name of your state/province is represented by one of the abbreviations at the end of the list, please refer to this table in PDF format. If you do not find your state/province in the table, please contact us or call 800-827-5482. We can help you make your gift by phone and/or work with you to get your state/province listed online.
I am a WELS called worker or a called worker’s spouse. Why can’t I use my transactions account to update my profile information?
As a WELS called worker, you are asked each summer to submit personal information which, among other things, is used to update the WELS Yearbook. The information you submit is stored in a WELS called worker database. For called worker convenience and data efficiency, some of this information (name, address, home phone, e-mail address, birthdate, marital status, spouse information, and WELS congregation) gets imported into the “My Profile” fields in your transactions account. In other words, in order for your profile information to be updated here, the WELS called worker database needs to be updated first. We prefer that you call 800-827-5482 or contact us to make it clear to us that your intention is to change the WELS called worker database. With that understanding your updates can be processed in both the called worker database and your transactions account on your behalf.
How can I give in a way that is most beneficial to WELS?
A gift to the operating fund is most beneficial because it allows WELS to allocate your gift to the area of greatest need in our current ministry plan. If you prefer Selective Giving, a donation to an area of ministry's general fund allows that area of ministry to use your gift where it is most needed at the time. (Typically, this general fund is at the top of the gift designation list and is pre-loaded on the donation form.) If you want to give more specifically, check out the Support page for current emphases as featured in recent appeals, WELS Connection videos, etc.
What if the gift designation I’m looking for isn’t listed?
If you do not see the gift designation you’re looking for, please call us at 800-827-5482 to confirm the availability of the designation and proceed with your gift.
Can I make gifts to multiple designations within one transaction?
Yes. You can give to multiple designations within one transaction under any of the "Selective giving" categories. After choosing your first gift amount and designation, click the "Add donation" button. Then repeat these steps to enter another gift amount and designation as part of the current transaction. If you would like to give to multiple designations across "Selective giving" categories (for example, World Missions and Ministerial Education), you will have to submit your gift(s) to one category and then return to the main Donate online page to start a new transaction under another category.
What happens if I mark the “I prefer to make this donation anonymously” checkbox?
A gift acknowledgment will automatically be e-mailed shortly after you submit the transaction. After year’s end, you will receive an annual gift statement to use for tax purposes. The gift record will be marked anonymous when credited to your account in the donor database. If you are new to us and mark the “anonymous” checkbox for this gift, you will not receive our mailings. If you are already in our database and would like to update your mailing options, please see that FAQ below. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 800-827-5482.
How can I update my mailing options?
We like to inform all supporters about WELS ministry and needs via both mail and e-mail. In addition, if you are a supporter of a WELS ministerial education school you may receive periodic communications from that school. If you would like to be excluded from any of the above mailings, please contact us or call 800-827-5482.
How do I adjust my recurring gift?
If you would like to change the gift amount, designation, or end date of your recurring gift, please call us at 800-827-5482 and we will be happy to assist you.
What processing fees does WELS incur for online gifts and how will they affect my gift?
For credit card transactions, WELS is charged about 2.5 percent of the gift amount. For Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) transactions, WELS is charged about $0.08 per transaction. So, fees are generally lower for gifts via EFT vs. credit card. Such fees are paid out of WELS’ general operating funds, not the gifts, so your full gift amount will be applied to the designation you select.