Summary: Learn how Tithely has updated the giving process for donors whose banks require 3D Secure (3DS) verification. This release fixes false confirmation screens and introduces a seamless in-form bank check and verification emails to ensure gifts are accurately authorized and processed.
Before You Begin
What is 3D Secure (3DS)? Some banks require donors to confirm a card payment before it goes through—a security step called 3D Secure (3DS). It is a standard practice in the UK and Europe and is growing in the US.
Why the update? Previously, the giving form told donors their gift was complete the moment they submitted it, even if it was put on hold for bank confirmation. This led to donors walking away believing they gave, but the church never receiving the money if the verification wasn't completed.
Who is affected? This only affects donors giving by card whose bank explicitly requires the check—via the web giving form or the Giving App. ACH/bank gifts and standard card gifts are entirely unchanged.
What to Expect During the Giving Process
1. The In-Form Bank Check (Web Giving Form)
When a bank requires the check, the bank's confirmation pop-up will now appear immediately after the donor presses Give.
While the gift is processing, the donor approves the transaction directly in the pop-up.
The donor will see a short "Finalizing Gift…" spinner and then land on the normal thank-you page.
Their gift is done, and no further action is needed.
(Note: Donors with normal cards will see no change, no pop-up, and the same flow as today).
2. The "Almost there!" Page
If a donor closes or fails the bank check pop-up on the form, they will no longer see a false "Your gift is complete!" screen. Instead, they will land on a new page titled "Almost there!"
This page explains: "Your card issuer needs to confirm this gift before it goes through. A verification link is on its way to your email inbox, check there to finish your donation."
It reassures the donor: "You haven't been charged yet. The email will arrive shortly; if you don't see it, check your spam folder."
For Recurring Gifts: It adds one extra line: "You may receive this verification email periodically while this recurring gift remains active. Always be sure to complete the verification to keep the gift running."
3. The Verification Email
An email titled "Your gift needs one more step" is automatically sent from Tithe.ly (support@tithe.ly) for every single gift that requires the bank check.
If completed on the form: The donor can ignore the email. Their gift is done, and clicking the link will not double charge them.
If not completed on the form: The donor must complete the verification via the "Confirm my gift" link in this email.
Giving App Donors: Donors using the Giving App will not see the bank check inside the app experience. They will see pending language on their thank-you screen and must complete the check using the link in the verification email.
Time Limit: Donors have exactly 7 days to complete the check. After that, the gift voids, they are not charged, and they would need to submit a new gift.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
I gave, but the church says nothing arrived. What happened? Admins can check the gift's status. If it says Requires Action, it means the gift is waiting on the donor's bank check; the donor should find the "Your gift needs one more step" email (check spam) and click "Confirm my gift". If the status is Voided, the 7-day window has passed, and the donor must give again.
I confirmed on the form, then got an email asking me to confirm. Is this a bug? No, this is expected. The email sends for every gift that requires the check. If you already confirmed on the form, you can safely ignore the email, and clicking it will not double charge you.
My bank asked me to confirm twice on one gift. Why? This is expected on the web form when a donor saves a new card and gives a gift in the exact same session—one check is for saving the card, and one check is for the actual charge. It is not a bug.
Why does my recurring gift keep asking me to verify? Some banks periodically re-check recurring payments for security. The donor must complete each check as they arrive to keep the recurring gift running.
Is the verification email legitimate? Yes. The official email comes from
support@tithe.lywith the subject line "Your gift needs one more step."