Free theme Eden, recurring gift recovery, and new ChMS features

June 22, 2023 by

Diane Kern

What we're excited about: Recovering failed recurring gifts

Recurring giving makes things simple, consistent, and most effective whenever life gets busy for donors. However, sometimes busy lifestyles mean we miss things like expired credit cards, or reissued ones. These details may not always get updated, causing an automatic gift to fail.

Now with Recurring Donation Recovery, eCatholic Online Giving will instantly notify a donor and the admin, when a gift has failed. The donor can then log into their separate accounts and easily locate the error. Changes and updates can easily be made right then and there… including the option to charged the missed amount in a separate transaction. Now missed gifts won’t be lost forever!
 

Latest Features

There's always something on the horizon! Keep an eye out for this new free theme and other upgrades and features.
 

1

Eden website theme

Ready for a website refresh? Create a timeless paradise with the latest website free theme option, Eden.

A nature-inspired color palette and traditional font styles create an elegant canvas for your organization content. Customize individual sections with background illustrations of iconic Catholic imagery. And see it all come together in a stunning mobile view.

Learn more: Discover free theme Eden
Help article: Changing your website theme

2

New Service: Homepage Makeover +

Looking to elevate your website this summer, but running out of time? Our Homepage Makeover Service has revealed stunning new facelifts for eCatholic websites as our team upgrades customer website themes and restyles homepages to be top notch.

But why stop there? Now our makeover services include the option to have up to ten additional interior website pages refreshed as well. You can get a flashy new theme fashioned with a beautiful homepage and interior pages that truly impress. See if the Homepage Makeover+ service is just what your organization is looking for.

Learn more: Homepage Makeover+ details and pricing

SEE CUSTOM DESIGNS

3

Test drive the Donations Module

Curious about eCatholic Online Giving? Try it out with the all new demo mode for the Donations Module. See how a donations form and its settings work by placing the demo module on any interior page on your website.

Simply log in to your eCatholic website and open the Content Tray, select the "Add-ons" category, then drag 'n drop the Donations Module demo onto an interior page. Visitors won't see the module unless you decide to add the Online Giving service, so go ahead and see how quick and easy it is to accept online gifts directly on your eCatholic website! Go ahead and test it out for yourself! 

Learn more: How to use the Donations demo Module
Help article: About eCatholic Online Giving

4

Report Library access right in your ChMS platform

Using eCatholic’s Church Management Software? Check out your new Report Library and discover the various types of reports your database can create. Access the library by clicking on the Reports module found in your blue navigation bar. Find report types and their descriptions, then, simply click View to choose your parameters and instantly generate reports.

And did we mention that you can favorite your most-used reports? Cut the endless scrolling to find what you need, quickly! 

Learn more: ChMS Report Library

Developer's Updates

Our team has worked to really elevate our ChMS users’ experience with the all new Family Explorer view and its new capabilities. Here’s a look below at what is now available!
 

1

ChMS: Actions Menu

When using your ChMS in the Family Explorer view, notice the Actions Button at the top of your data list. This dropdown menu allows you to select actions for existing families such as: sending a message, downloading information, creating mailing labels, or adding families to your parish. It’s just an easier way for quickly completing tasks and connecting with families!

Learn more: Actions of Family Explorer

2

ChMS: Message size notifications

When sending a message from your ChMS (from the Actions dropdown menu), a notification appears if the message size exceeds its file limit. This way you know if a message size becomes undeliverable after adding attachments. Then when you hit the send button, a spinning circle animation will let you know the message is processing. When the animation stops, your message has been sent. No more wondering whether your email went through or not.

Learn more: Sending a message action in family explorer

3

ChMS: My Layouts

Alter and save your own preferred layouts for easy data access! Look under the Layouts Menu option where you'll see the default option for changing columns and adding filters to organize data just the way you want. Then, return to the Layout menu and select "Manage Layouts" to name and save your preferences.Your saved layout will now appear at the top of the Layout drop down menu as well as under "Manage Layouts" where you can save up to ten layouts, delete, or change their order. Start making data lists the way you really want them to look!

4

ChMS: Recording Funeral details

A new Funeral section is now located between the "Sacraments" and "RE History" tabs of a member's record. There you can record funeral, deceased date, burial, and other information regarding a member of your parish. Don’t forget you can view a sample funeral report in the Report Library and instantly run your own whenever you need.

Learn more: About Funeral recording

Inside eCatholic

This past year members from the eCatholic team received the incredible opportunity to travel to Poland. The trip came together as a way for our product and development teams to meet in person with eCatholic developers based in Poland. That’s right! We even have staffers working overseas!

Faith-filled inspiration across seas

In between work sessions and discussions, our Polish friends took their American co-workers on a tour of historic attractions and stunning cities. The culture, the sights, and the places where saints once walked truly left an indelible mark on our team.

Seeing such a beautiful place and culture was awe-inspiring. It was a subtle reminder of how beauty can still shine in the world through faith. It’s why we work to help church organizations convey that same inspiration and beauty in their websites and interactive technologies. And you are part of it! Thanks for being on this journey… wherever it takes us!

eCatholic is so grateful for the kindness and hospitality we received from our Polish team and friends! Here are some pictures from the trip for you to enjoy.