This article explains what you can and can’t change on your site, and how to share a third-party giving link with your church family.

Do I Have to Use SteepleMate for Online Giving?

No.

You are not required to use SteepleMate online giving.

Some churches choose another provider for tithes and offerings, and that is completely fine. Your SteepleMate website is designed to serve your ministry whether or not you use SteepleMate giving.

Why Can’t We Change the “Give” Button in the Menu?

SteepleMate websites are pre-configured church website templates. This is what makes them:

• Simple to set up

• Easy to maintain

• Consistent and reliable for visitors

Because of this, some parts of the website are fixed and cannot be edited, including:

• The top navigation menu

• The “Give” button in the header

That means:

• The “Give” button cannot be removed

• The “Give” button cannot be renamed

• The “Give” button cannot be redirected to another giving website or provider

The “Give” button is reserved for SteepleMate’s integrated online giving. Since it looks like part of the SteepleMate System, leaving it connected only to SteepleMate giving:

• Avoids confusion for donors about who is handling their payment

• Helps protect churches and donors from security issues on third-party sites

• Keeps support clear when there are questions about giving

Even if you use another giving provider, the header menu and “Give” button will remain as part of the template.

How Can We Share Our Own Giving Link?

Even though you can’t change the header navigation or the “Give” button, you still have several ways to share your giving link so people can give easily.

1. Use the Announcement Feature

You can use the announcement feature to create graphics that highlight your giving options, such as:

• “Give Online”

• “Ways to Give”

• “Tithes & Offerings”

In those announcements, you can:

• Add your external giving link

• Include short text like “Visit our giving page at [your link]”

• Use your church’s branding and colors

Announcements are a great way to regularly remind your congregation how and where to give.

2. Add a Link Using the Church Library

You can also add your giving link using the church library feature. For example, you might create a library item like:

• Title: Online Giving

• Description: Click here to give online through our secure giving page.

• Link: Your online giving provider’s URL

This gives people a simple place to find your giving link any time they visit.

3. Add Your Giving Link in the Mobile App

If your church uses the SteepleMate mobile app, you can add a custom giving link there with no problem.

This is often one of the easiest ways for your regular attenders to give, since they can tap directly from their phone and go straight to your giving provider.

Common Questions

Q: Can you remove the “Give” button from our SteepleMate website?

A: No. The “Give” button and top navigation are fixed parts of the SteepleMate website template and can’t be removed on a church-by-church basis.

Q: Can you point the “Give” button to our other online giving provider?

A: No. The “Give” button is reserved for SteepleMate’s integrated giving only. However, you can share your own giving link through announcements, the church library, and the mobile app.

Q: Are we locked into SteepleMate giving if we use the SteepleMate website?

A: No. You can choose any giving provider you prefer. The only limitation is that the header “Give” button can’t be changed or redirected.

Need Help?

If you’d like help deciding where to place your giving link or how to set up announcements, church library items, or mobile app links, please contact SteepleMate support and we’ll be glad to walk through it with you.