Automated recurring giving setup and reminders

**Purpose**

1.1. Enable donors to enroll in automated recurring giving, ensuring sustained financial support for church operations and missions.
1.2. Automate creation, management, and processing of recurring donations via multiple channels—website, app, email, SMS.
1.3. Issue timely automated reminders and notifications about upcoming, scheduled, or failed donations.
1.4. Enhance donor experience by reducing manual entry, providing self-management options, and offering support.
1.5. Integrate transactional and reminder data with financial, CRM, and communication platforms for seamless reporting and stewardship.

**Trigger Conditions**

2.1. New donor submits a request for recurring giving through church platform.
2.2. Existing donor updates, pauses, or cancels a recurring giving arrangement.
2.3. Scheduled recurrence approaches; reminder notification is due (e.g., 3 days before charge).
2.4. Recurring payment succeeds or fails, requiring status notification or follow-up.
2.5. Administrative prompts for summary reports or intervention when anomalies detected.

**Platform Variants**

3.1. Stripe
• Feature/Setting: Create Subscription API; configure webhook for "invoice.upcoming" and "invoice.payment_failed"; map donor profile fields.
3.2. PayPal
• Feature/Setting: Billing Plans and Agreements API; Automated recurring payments notifications via IPN (Instant Payment Notification).
3.3. Pushpay
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Gifting on Donor Portal; webhooks for reminders; update/cancel endpoints.
3.4. Tithe.ly
• Feature/Setting: Tithe.ly Recurring Giving API; donor notification events; donor self-service portal setup.
3.5. Planning Center Giving
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Donations API endpoint; webhook for donation lifecycle events.
3.6. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Messaging Service; event-triggered reminder templates; schedule with Cron API.
3.7. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Automations for recurring reminder emails; event webhook for donation status.
3.8. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Scheduled Email Automation; Donation Reminder Campaign; Dynamic Template API for personalization.
3.9. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Donation Object automation; Process Builder for reminders; task automation triggers.
3.10. QuickBooks Online
• Feature/Setting: Scheduled Invoices; Recurring Transaction API; webhook for payment success/failure status.
3.11. Zoho Books
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Invoices module; Schedule automated reminders; API integration for payment confirmation.
3.12. BambooHR (for staff alerts)
• Feature/Setting: Alerts & Action Automation; scheduled notification to finance staff for anomalies.
3.13. Google Calendar
• Feature/Setting: Automated Event Creation via API for donor reminders or admin follow-ups.
3.14. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Scheduled workflow to post reminders to #finance or #giving channels on recurring events.
3.15. Microsoft Teams
• Feature/Setting: Automated message workflow with Power Automate; recurring tips in giving channels.
3.16. Zapier
• Feature/Setting: Multi-step Zaps for recurring trigger handling; SMS/Email actions on schedule.
3.17. Shopify
• Feature/Setting: Subscription Payments API; email notifications for upcoming charges.
3.18. FreshBooks
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Expense API; automated client notification scheduler; webhook for payment status.
3.19. Donorbox
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Plans API; Donor Email Reminder; Admin dashboard trigger for follow-ups.
3.20. Blackbaud Church Management
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Gifts Automation; Scheduled Task for reminders; REST API event triggers.
3.21. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflows for recurring event emails; contact property automation for giving cycles.
3.22. Pabbly Subscriptions
• Feature/Setting: Event Trigger for Upcoming Billing; automated donor emails and payment outcome notifications.
3.23. ActiveCampaign
• Feature/Setting: Automation builder; personalized donor reminder emails for upcoming or missed donations.
3.24. Fundraise Up
• Feature/Setting: Recurring Donation Schedule API; automated donor touchpoint emails/sms.

**Benefits**

4.1. Ensures steady, predictable church revenue.
4.2. Enhances donor satisfaction and retention via reminders and transparency.
4.3. Saves staff time by minimizing manual donation management and reminders.
4.4. Reduces missed donations with automated pre-payment alerts and follow-ups.
4.5. Provides comprehensive audit trail and reporting for finance and leadership.
4.6. Integrates with church’s communication, finance, and donor management systems for seamless operation.