Church giving, explained plainly
What this site is, and is not
It is a donor's guide — written for the person typing "how do I pay tithing online" or "are church donations deductible" and finding either denominational documents or platform marketing. It is not a donation processor (the domain name notwithstanding, nothing here accepts money), not affiliated with any church or platform, and not a substitute for your congregation's own guidance, which on matters of practice is the authority. Where we state how a specific system works, the facts come from that organization's own published pages, dated.
First questions
What is tithing, and who practices it?
Giving a portion of income — traditionally a tenth, from the word's Old English root — to one's religious community. Practice varies widely by tradition: Latter-day Saints treat a 10% tithe as a defined commandment with a formal declaration practice; many Protestant churches teach the tithe as principle or starting point; Catholic parishes generally ask proportionate support without a fixed percentage; Jewish tradition has tzedakah with its own norms; Adventists combine tithe and offerings through a structured system. Our tithing page maps the traditions without ranking them.
How do I donate to my church online?
Through whichever system your congregation actually uses — and that is the first thing to check, because using the official channel matters for records and for fraud avoidance. Latter-day Saints have a church-run system (donations.churchofjesuschrist.org — covered in detail on its own page); Adventists have AdventistGiving; most other congregations use a commercial giving platform (the Tithe.ly/Pushpay category) or their denomination's portal. If in doubt, ask your local leadership for the official link rather than searching — giving pages are a known phishing target.
Are church donations tax deductible?
In the US, churches are qualified charitable organizations, so donations are generally deductible — but only if you itemize deductions rather than take the standard deduction, which most filers now take. Records matter (statements from your church; extra requirements for larger and non-cash gifts). That is the honest one-paragraph version; our tax-basics page adds the practical record-keeping details and where a tax professional earns their fee. Educational only — not tax advice.