Generous Giving

Giving at First Church

We encourage all of those who are part of our Church family to give not out of obligation but out of worship. Your gifts allow God's work to be done in the community. 

WAYS TO GIVE

There are many ways to financially support the ministries of First Church, including one-time gifts, recurring online giving, and text-to-give.

  1. Pledge... Annual commitment of giving
  2. Online Giving… Donate to the church operating fund or make a Special Gift to the designation of your choosing.
  3. Text-To-Give... Text MYCHURCHGIFT to 73256 and follow the link in the reply.
  4. Legacy Gift - Name the church as a beneficiary in your bequest and estate plans, including gifts of stock, property, and insurance benefits. 

 Securely Give

Give Conveniently Online – Even When You Can’t Attend Service.

Online gifts are made quickly and securely through REALM, our church software provider, via credit/debit card transaction or ACH deposit. Your information will remain private and will never be shared with third parties, other than to process your scheduled contributions. Check our easy step-by-step guide to using REALM.

Give Online

For any questions about giving
please contact
Jason Tucker
Senior Director of Stewardship and Development

Phone: 619-297-4366 x 145
email:

Giving FAQs

Q. Are my donations tax-deductible?
A. Yes, First Church is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and donations that we receive are tax-deductible. However, you should consult your tax advisor to see if you can deduct your donations from your income tax filing.

Q. What is the deadline for calendar year contributions?
A. Cash contributions must be received or postmarked by December 31 to be included on your giving statement for that year. Online transactions must be initiated by December 31.

Q. Will I get spam by giving you my information?
A. While we may occasionally use your information to contact you, First Church does not buy, sell, barter, trade or otherwise distribute your information to any organization other than for the purposes you’ve given us permission to do (i.e. we have to give the credit card company your name, address, and card numbering order to charge your credit card).

Q. Is there a minimum amount I need to contribute?
A. No. You can chose any amount to be given for any gift.

Q. Can I give a special gift in addition to my regular pledge?
A. You are always free to make special gifts to First Church in addition to your regular pledge. Simply indicate on the donation form what your special gift is for.

Q. Is it safe to give online?
A. Yes. In many ways giving online is safer than writing a check because an electronic gift cannot be lost or stolen. The security of the system is monitored by Vanco, our online merchant services system.

Q. What types of accounts can I give from?
A.You can give online from your checking or savings account or your MasterCard, Visa or Discover card.

Q. Are there any fees involved with giving online?
A. Not to you. You will not be charged any fees with an online gift.

Q. Can I make a one-time contribution?
A. Yes. The system allows you the option of making a one-time contribution or setting up a recurring contribution. For a one-time contribution, you can choose whether or not the contribution should be made immediately or, for both one-time and recurring contributions, you can schedule the contributions to come out of your bank account or be charged to your credit card on the date(s) specified by you.

Q. If I want to set-up a recurring gift, what are my options for frequency?
A. For recurring gifts, you have the option of giving weekly, monthly, or annually.

Q. When will contributions be taken from my account?
A. Contributions will be taken from your specified account within 48 business hours of the date you requested. This time frame allows for processing through your bank and the church’s bank. If the date of your contribution falls on a weekend or a holiday, the transaction will be initiated on the next banking day.

Q. Who should I contact for more information about regular giving at First Church?
A. For donation and contribution questions, please contact Finance Manager Shaun Cates in our Finance Office at 619.297.4366 ext. 108.

Q. What are Legacy Gifts?
A. Legacy Gifts are a means to give to First Church and guarantee your ongoing financial support of the church beyond your lifetime.

Q. How can I give Legacy *Gifts to the church?
A. There are many gifting options available at First Church:

Gifts of Cash
Gifts of Life Insurance
Gifts of Marketable Securities
Gifts of Retirement Funds, IRAs
Gifts of Real Estate
Gifts of Business Interests
Charitable Gift Annuity
Charitable Remainder Trust
Invest in the Church’s Pooled Income Fund

*Gifts may be given as undesignated or designated for a specific purpose and may be placed in an endowment fund or used to help fund the church’s current needs.

Q. Who should I contact for more information about Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts to First church?
A. For Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts questions, please contact Jason Tucker in our Development Office at 619.297.4366 x 145

First United Methodist Church of San Diego is a Christian community where people of all ages and life experiences find hope, meaning and purpose through Jesus Christ. First Church is a movement of Spirit-led people who are growing in the grace of God and reaching out with the love of Jesus Christ.

If you are not a member of First Church, we invite you to come and experience who we are. Together, we will discover the value of God's grace in our lives. If you have young children, there is an environment where they can learn and grow in their spiritual lives too! The word "family" means immediate family, extended family—and that's what First Church is all about: one big loving family. We are a strong, growing community of followers of Jesus whose mission is to help others grow spiritually by learning about Him and his love. We welcome and appreciate your financial support to help our church continue the offering of many services including worship, counseling and ministries for all ages.