How do I get started?

1. Access the site: http://fundraising.group.com
2. Fill out Church Information including your church's website address.
3. Fill out Payment Information and whether you want to accept credit card payments or not.
4. Complete the page with your personal information. This sets you up as the administrator.
5. Now set up the campaign by selecting what Group program you’re raising money for and give it a name for your church. (i.e. Mission Hills VBS Program).
1. Add start date.
2. Add end date.
3. Add campaign goal.
4. Write a description of the program if you want.
6. You’re all done!

Can I create multiple user logins for one account?
For security reasons, you can only create one user login for each GivingSpree account

What is my "Campaign Name" used for?
Your campaign name will be used in your unique website URL (or website address). For example, if you are doing a High Seas VBS and your campaign name is "mission_hills_vbs", then your unique website URL will be "http://fundraising.group.com/site/highseas/mission_hills_vbs". You will use this unique URL to send people to your fundraising website so they can learn about your fundraising needs and help support your ministry.

What if I don't have a Paypal Account?
No problem! You can still use Group's GivingSpree to organize and track your fundraising donations. Instead of making online donations with a credit card, your donors will simple make online "Commitments". Those commitments, when made online, will be automatically recorded to your campaign along with the donor's name and contact info. From there, it is up to you to follow up with those donors and communicate to them how they can fulfill their commitments (drop off a check to the church office, mail it to the church, drop it in the offering basket on Sunday, etc.). Once you receive the money, simple login to GivingSpree admin tool, find the donor's name under the Donors page, and click the "Add Payment" button ($).

What is a Campaign?
Your fundraising campaign is the starting point for organizing your fundraising efforts. Your campaign will help you define and communicate the purpose behind your fundraising, your needs and your goals.

Can I create more than one campaign at a time?
Yes. You can create multiple fundraising campaigns by going to the "Campaigns" page in and then clicking on the "+ New Campaign" button. From there you will be guided through the Campaign setup process in which you can choose a new theme, campaign name, goal, setup your Wish List, etc. After you have setup multiple campaigns, you will have the ability to toggle between then by going to the "Campaigns" page and clicking on the "View" button next to each campaign name.

What if I need to change my campaign goal?
You can change your campaign goal at anytime by going to the "Campaigns" page, choose the campaign you would like to view, select the "Campaign Info" tab, and edit your campaign goal. Once you make the desired changes to your Campaign Goal, make sure you click the blue "Save" button to save your changes.

What is a Wish List?
Your GivingSpree Wish List provides a fun way that people can make a donation to your fundraising campaign. Your Wish List is just that, a list of VBS program items you would like for your event. As you create your Wish List, you are giving your donors a picture of the kinds of things their money is going to help purchase. When your donors visit your fundraising website, they will have a blast browsing your Wish List items and picking out what they would like to help you purchase. It's just like a Wedding Registry, only easier! After your donors select the items they would like to help purchase, they simply make an online payment or commitment for the cash total (they are giving you the money to buy the items, so they don't have to worry about making the purchase and delivering the items to the church themselves.) Towards the end of your fundraising campaign, when all of your funds have been collected, you and your leaders then make one large purchase for all the VBS items you need. Someone say, "Shopping spree!"

Can I add my own items to my Wish List?
At this time, you cannot add your own items to the Wish List. You may still request additional items from your prospects and donors through email, announcements and your customizable content on your fundraising website.

How do I know which Wish List items people have donated to?
We recommend that you visit your fundraising website each week and view your Wish List. Next to each item you will be able to see the Quantity you have requested for each item, and the quantity that has already been donated to. You may need to adjust the quantity for each item as needed.

How do I purchase the items on my Wish List after I raise the funds?
When your fundraising campaign is coming to an end, you will want to make a final tally of the items you need and the money you've raised. Then you will simple visit www.Group.com to make your purchase. You can now use the EZ Order Form to quickly add items to your shopping cart!

Do I have to purchase everything on my Wish List?
Your Wish List is a general guide to the items you'll need for your VBS event. There may be items that you need that are not on your Wish List. You may also find that there are items on your Wish List that you need, and no one donated money to buy them. Don’t worry. In the end, it is up to you as the VBS leader to decide what your event needs and which items are the most important to buy. Our prayer is that you reach your fundraising goal and can get everything you need to make your VBS event a success!

What if there are things we need, but there are not on the Wish List?
Your Wish List is a general guide to the items you'll need for your VBS event. There may be items that you need that are not on your Wish List. Don’t worry. Some of your donors will just want to write a check and let you decide what to do with it. In the end, it is up to you as the VBS leader to decide what your event needs and which items are the most important to buy.

Who are my donors?
Your donors are anyone who is willing to support your church's event. Donors may be parents and families of the children in your church, members of your congregation, people in your neighborhood, or even businesses in your community.

What is the difference between Donors and Prospects?
Donors are those people whom have already made payments or commitments to your fundraising campaign. Prospects are those who you are inviting to get involved. Your goal is to help your prospects turn into donors.

How do I tell people about our fundraising campaign?
Group's GivingSpree has two effective tools built-in to the admin tool, that will help you spread the word about your fundraising campaign.

The first is the Customizable Fundraising Website. When your potential donors – prospects – go here, they can get the full experience of what you are raising money for. This website can contain videos of the program, personalized messages to your prospects and donors, your ideas, needs and goals, and wish lists or participant lists.

The second resource you can use to get the word out is our professional Fundraising Letter Templates. Each Letter Template is in Microsoft Word format and can be copied, edited and sent to your prospects and donors.

How do I use the Letter Templates?
Our professionally written Fundraising Letter Templates are designed to be a starting point for you to modify and personalized for your unique audience. To get started, simple click on the "Letter Templates" button on your Dashboard page, find the template you want to use, and click the "Download this file" button. After the file is downloaded to your computer, open it up and edit any part you need to! You can send these letters through email, or postal mail.

Giving Spree accounting software?
The simple answer is no, it is not accounting software. Group's GivingSpree is a simple tool to organize, track and manage your fundraising efforts. GivingSpree was not designed, nor should be used for accounting or financial purposes. We recommend that you consult with your accounting department before using Group's GivingSpree.

Why would I use Group’s Giving Spree?
In today's economy, it is becoming even more difficult for churches to reach their communities through events and outreach programs due to shrinking budgets. Group's GivingSpree is a simple way to invite those in, and out, of your church to help. Group's GivingSpree helps you create a fundraising campaign, spread the word and start tracking your donations. It's fun. It's effective. And it's simple to use. And best of all – It’s FREE.

Does this cost me anything?
No. Nada. Zippo.

How do I accept donations using Group's GivingSpree?
There are two ways to accept donations using Group's GivingSpree. The first is through online donations made through the customizable fundraising website feature (PayPal account required). The second is through donation commitments, made online or in person. Either method of accepting donations will automatically be managed and organized with the GivingSpree admin tool.

Will Giving Spree integrate into current software we have?
Giving Spree software helps you focus on three things:

• Setting up fundraising campaigns
• Managing potential and current donors
• Monitoring donations against goals
• Communicating your needs via the donor website and letter templates

Giving Spree is not designed to be accounting software or plug into church management or financial software.

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