> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lightpost.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lightpost.app/add-on-features/online-giving/guest-giving.md). # Guest Giving Guest giving lets visitors and other non-members give by card from a public link, without a Lightpost login. Guest giving gives your congregation a public giving page that anyone can use. It is meant for visitors, friends, and others who don't have a Lightpost login. {% hint style="warning" %} **Guest giving should be used for non-members only.** Please encourage members to give through their Lightpost account. This keeps more accurate records, reduces possible payment declines, makes it easier to track down issues, and makes end of year reports easier. {% endhint %} ### Turning On Guest Giving Guest giving is part of Online Giving, so your Stripe account must be connected first (see [Setup](/add-on-features/online-giving/setup.md)). You also need at least one contribution category that isn't hidden. Guest giving has its own page in the Admin. It is in the Online Giving menu, between **Payout Report** and **Settings**. 1. Open **Data → Online Giving → Guest Giving** ([admin.lightpost.app/finance/giving/guest-giving](https://admin.lightpost.app/finance/giving/guest-giving)). 2. Under **Giving - Allow guest giving**, check **Enable for your Account**. 3. A window explains the risks of a public giving page (see [Understanding the Risks](#understanding-the-risks)). Select **I understand, enable** to turn guest giving on. Selecting **Cancel** leaves it off. To turn guest giving off, uncheck **Enable for your Account**. That change is saved automatically. {% hint style="info" %} Opening the Guest Giving page requires the **Manage Financial Records** permission. Turning guest giving on or off also requires the **Manage Account** permission. {% endhint %} Under **Your giving page**, the same page shows your **giving link** and a **QR code** for it. The link works while guest giving is on. * Copy the link to share it in an email, on social media, or on your website. * Right-click the QR code and copy it into a bulletin or slide. {% hint style="info" %} If the Guest Giving page says your account doesn't have a giving link yet, contact Lightpost support and we'll set one up. {% endhint %} Your logo is shown at the top of the giving page, or your congregation's name if you haven't uploaded one. An account administrator can change the logo under **Account Settings → Branding**. ### Adding an Online Giving Link to Your Lightpost Website If you use a [Lightpost Website](/add-on-features/website.md), you can add an **Online Giving** link to its menu. The link opens your guest giving page. 1. Open **Website → Website Settings → Content Settings**. 2. Under **Online Giving**, turn on **Show Online Giving Link**. 3. Select **Save Changes**. The link is available in all three [website templates](/add-on-features/website/templates.md). In the two column templates it appears in the first group of sidebar links, above your blogs. {% hint style="info" %} The link only shows on your website while guest giving is turned on. If guest giving is off, **Content Settings** shows a reminder and the link stays hidden. {% endhint %} ### What Guests See 1. The guest opens your giving link. 2. They choose a **Fund** (if you have more than one) and enter an **Amount**. Buttons for common amounts are included. 3. They select **Continue to secure payment** and enter their email, name, billing address, and card on Stripe's secure payment page. 4. After paying, they see a thank-you page and receive a receipt by email. Guests don't create an account or log in. If your members can give online, the page also shows an **Already a member?** link that recommends logging in to give instead. ### What Guests Can Give * **Funds** — guests can choose from the same categories members can: every contribution category that isn't hidden. See [Finance Categories](/add-on-features/financial-management/finance-categories.md). * **Amounts** — whole dollars only, from **$5** up to **$2,000** in one gift. Contact Lightpost support if you'd like to raise the upper limit for your congregation. * **Payment methods** — credit or debit card, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. **Prepaid cards and gift cards are not accepted**, and bank account (ACH) giving is for members only. * **One-time gifts only** — [recurring giving](/add-on-features/online-giving/recurring-giving.md) is only available to members. ### How Guest Gifts Are Recorded Each paid gift is added to your contributions automatically. * If the guest's email matches someone already in your Lightpost account, the gift is recorded under that person. * Otherwise, Lightpost adds the guest as a new visitor and records the gift under them. Guest gifts are marked with a **Guest** badge in your contributions list, along with the name and email the guest entered. The email isn't verified, so use those details to confirm who the gift is from. Guest gifts are included in your [Giving Reports](/add-on-features/online-giving/giving-reports.md) with the rest of your online gifts. ### Understanding the Risks A public giving page can be reached by anyone, and that includes scammers. Guest giving adds risks that member giving does not have, such as gifts made with stolen cards, card testing, and disputes that take a gift back along with a fee. Lightpost and Stripe both use anti-fraud measures, but nothing is 100%. **By enabling guest giving, you understand these risks and are responsible for them.** The gift limit, the automatic pause, and refunding only through Stripe all help limit these risks. The pause and refunds are covered below. ### When Guest Giving Pauses To protect your Stripe account, your giving page stops taking gifts for about an hour if several card payments are declined in a short time. That pattern is what someone testing stolen cards looks like. * Your billing contacts are emailed when this happens. * Guest giving starts again on its own when the pause ends. * If you know the declines were honest mistakes, open **Online Giving → Guest Giving** and select **Resume guest giving** to take gifts again right away. Member giving is not affected by a pause. ### Refunds and Disputes {% hint style="danger" %} **Only refund a guest gift through Stripe.** If someone asks for a guest gift back by check, cash, or a payment app, do not send it. This is a common scam: the gift was made with a stolen card, the card's owner disputes the charge later, and the money is lost twice. A refund made in Stripe goes back to the card it came from. {% endhint %} If a cardholder disputes a gift with their bank, Lightpost marks the contribution as disputed and emails your billing contacts. Disputes are handled in your Stripe account.