Tim Postuma

Thanks for posting this, Adom. Looks like a pretty great tool (and built with a very modern interface). I'd be curious to hear how other churches are using it as well. 

I thought it would be helpful to add a link to their website: planning.center

Another tip...whatever online giving solution you choose, make sure it integrates with your church management system (or could be integrated in the future if you don't yet have a church management system). You don't want to be rekeying or importing transactions. As soon as a donation is made, it should be instantly reflected in that member's giving record, and members should be able to log in to view their giving history, adjust their recurring donations, etc.

This isn't high-tech stuff. These days, any church large or small can have this functionality by choosing a good, web-based church management system (there are many on the market). It's been a game-changer for my own church, especially for our church admin and volunteer deacons/bookkeeper. 

Great info, Al. I didn't realize Microsoft's solution had email accounts, etc. just like Google Apps. It's good to have options. Thanks for taking the time to write this up for everyone's benefit. I hope you keep posting!

@Randy - Google Docs is great...if you fully switch to it. You're absolutely right that if you try to keep a foot in both worlds, you'll have no end of hassle with messy conversions, etc. That where Microsoft's solution would be a way better fit.

Has anyone else used Microsoft's Office 365 in this way for a church or company? Cloud solutions like these just seem like such a great fit for churches since churches have way more offsite volunteers than onsite staff.

Both Google Docs and, more commonly, Google Sites allows you create 'public' pages. But I wouldn't use it as a public church website. It's not nearly as flexible as even the most basic blogging tool.

Having said that, we use it for our CRCNA intranet (for staff). Because, for that internal site, we wanted staff to have the most convenient access possible and Sites gives us that (once logged into email, they're automatically logged into our intranet - no need for another login).

In rare situations, we'll also make a Google Doc public and link to it from our main site (e.g. small audience, design not important, constant updates needed by staff who aren't trained in our CMS).

So, as a rule, I wouldn't use Google Sites or Docs as a 'real' website. But in very specific situations, it can fit the bill. Hope this helps.

Chester,

Can you be more specific about what you're not finding easy enough to do or find? Or suggestions for how to improve things? The site is 'always reforming' :-) so some specifics would be great.

Regarding usage, it's actually been quite good. As of today, nearly 1,700 registered users and well over 2,000 user posts (comments and discussion topics). Of course, we'd always like more and so we're encouraging folks to help spread the word. But, compared to similar efforts, this is the most interactive the CRC has ever been online and it hasn't yet had its first birthday. Not to sound defensive, of course!

About a year ago, the CRCNA switched to Google Apps for all of our staff (in North America and around the world). It's been a great move!