Overview
Configuration Options
Detailed configuration settings and options for the WeGive Planning Center integration
Configuration Options
The WeGive Planning Center integration provides comprehensive configuration options to control authentication methods, data synchronization behavior, batch processing, and integration features.
Authentication Configuration
Authentication Methods
| Setting | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication Type | OAuth/Legacy | Yes | Choose between OAuth 2.0 or Legacy authentication |
| Enabled | Boolean | Yes | Master toggle to enable/disable the entire integration |
OAuth 2.0 Configuration (Recommended)
| Setting | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client ID | String | Yes | OAuth Client ID from Planning Center application |
| Client Secret | String | Yes | OAuth Client Secret from Planning Center application |
| Scope | String | Auto | Automatically set to ‘people giving’ |
OAuth Benefits:
- Enhanced security with token-based authentication
- Automatic token refresh without manual intervention
- Granular permission control
- Better audit trail and access logging
Legacy Authentication Configuration
| Setting | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application ID | String | Yes | Planning Center Application ID |
| Application Secret | String | Yes | Planning Center Personal Access Token |
Legacy Use Cases:
- Existing implementations using basic authentication
- Organizations preferring direct credential management
- Simple setup without OAuth flow complexity
Synchronization Controls
Data Type Configuration
Configure what types of data synchronize between platforms:
Donors/People Sync
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Push Donors | Enabled | Send WeGive donors to Planning Center as people |
| Pull Donors | Enabled | Import Planning Center people to WeGive as donors |
Push Donors Configuration:
- Creates person records in Planning Center from WeGive donors
- Updates existing people when correlation ID exists
- Syncs contact information including emails, phones, and addresses
- Maintains family and household relationships
Pull Donors Configuration:
- Imports Planning Center people to WeGive
- Respects existing donor records to prevent duplicates
- Maps person attributes to appropriate WeGive donor fields
- Includes complete contact and communication information
Transactions/Donations Sync
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Push Transactions | Enabled | Send WeGive donations to Planning Center as donations |
| Pull Transactions | Enabled | Import Planning Center donations to WeGive |
Push Transactions Configuration:
- Creates daily donation batches in Planning Center
- Organizes transactions by date for accounting purposes
- Maps payment methods and fund designations
- Automatically commits batches after successful processing
Pull Transactions Configuration:
- Imports Planning Center donations to WeGive
- Includes fund designations and payment information
- Links to existing donors or creates new donor records
- Preserves donation metadata and processing details
Funds Sync
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Push Funds | Enabled | Send WeGive funds to Planning Center as funds |
| Pull Funds | Enabled | Import Planning Center funds to WeGive |
Fund Sync Features:
- Maintains fund naming and organizational structure
- Enables proper donation designation mapping
- Handles fund visibility and active status
- Supports fund creation for missing designations
Recurring Donations Sync
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Push Scheduled Donations | Enabled | Send WeGive recurring plans to Planning Center |
| Pull Scheduled Donations | Enabled | Import Planning Center recurring gifts to WeGive |
Advanced Settings
Required Configuration
| Setting | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default Fund ID | String | Yes | Planning Center fund ID for donations without specific designation |
Important Notes:
- Must be a valid, active fund ID from your Planning Center Giving module
- Used when WeGive transactions don’t have specific fund designations
- Prevents donation processing failures due to missing fund mappings
- Should be your organization’s general operating fund
Batch Processing Configuration
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batch Processing | Enabled/Disabled | Enabled | Process donations in organized batches |
| Daily Batch Time | Time | 8:01 AM | When daily batches are automatically created |
| Batch Commitment | Auto/Manual | Auto | Automatically commit batches after successful processing |
Batch Processing Benefits:
- Organized accounting structure in Planning Center
- Efficient processing of large donation volumes
- Automatic error handling and rollback capabilities
- Clear audit trail for financial reporting
Sync Timing Configuration
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sync Frequency | Real-time/Daily/Manual | Daily | How often automatic synchronization occurs |
| Incremental Sync | Enabled/Disabled | Enabled | Only sync changed data for efficiency |
Real-time Sync:
- Immediate synchronization for critical updates
- Individual transaction processing as they occur
- Best for organizations requiring immediate data consistency
Daily Sync:
- Scheduled batch processing for bulk operations
- More efficient for large data volumes
- Coordinated with Planning Center batch processing workflows
Data Flow Configuration
Sync Direction Matrix
| Data Type | Push (WeGive → Planning Center) | Pull (Planning Center → WeGive) | Bidirectional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donors/People | Configurable | Configurable | Supported |
| Transactions/Donations | Configurable | Configurable | Supported |
| Funds | Configurable | Configurable | Supported |
| Recurring Donations | Configurable | Configurable | Supported |
Conflict Resolution
When the same record exists in both systems:
For Push Operations (WeGive → Planning Center):
- WeGive data takes precedence
- Planning Center records are updated with WeGive values
- Correlation IDs prevent duplicate creation
For Pull Operations (Planning Center → WeGive):
- Planning Center data takes precedence
- WeGive records are updated with Planning Center values
- Existing relationships are preserved
Integration Features
Data Processing Options
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Detection | Enabled/Disabled | Enabled | Prevent duplicate records during sync |
| Contact Matching | Email/Name/Both | Method for matching existing contacts | |
| Error Handling | Standard/Enhanced | Standard | Level of error handling and retry logic |
API Configuration
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rate Limiting | 70 requests/20 seconds | Respect Planning Center API limits |
| Retry Logic | 3 attempts | Automatic retry for failed requests |
| Timeout | 30 seconds | Request timeout duration |
Monitoring and Logging
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log Level | Minimal/Standard/Detailed | Standard | Amount of detail in integration logs |
| Performance Tracking | Enabled/Disabled | Enabled | Track sync performance and timing |
| Error Notifications | Dashboard/Email/Both | Dashboard | How to receive error notifications |
| Batch Reporting | Enabled/Disabled | Enabled | Generate reports for batch processing |
Payment Source Configuration
WeGive Payment Source
| Setting | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Source Name | ”WeGive” | All transactions use this payment source in Planning Center |
| Payment Source Type | Electronic | Designation for reporting and categorization |
Payment Source Notes:
- Single payment source simplifies Planning Center management
- All WeGive transactions attributed to “WeGive” source
- Payment method details maintained in transaction metadata
- Supports unified reporting across payment types
Fund Management Configuration
Fund Assignment Logic
| Setting | Options | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fund Creation | Auto/Manual | Auto | Automatically create missing funds in Planning Center |
| Hidden Fund Handling | Skip/Include | Skip | How to handle hidden funds in Planning Center |
| Fund Validation | Strict/Lenient | Strict | Validation level for fund assignments |
Fund Assignment Priority:
- Use specific fund designation from WeGive transaction
- Fall back to default fund if no designation specified
- Create new fund if specified fund doesn’t exist (when auto-creation enabled)
- Use general fund as final fallback
Fund Synchronization
Fund Visibility:
- Active funds sync bidirectionally
- Hidden funds marked appropriately in WeGive
- Deleted funds handled with proper status updates
- Fund hierarchy maintained where applicable
Recommended Configuration Approaches
Standard Configuration (Most Churches)
Purpose: Maintain Planning Center as primary system with WeGive donation data enrichment
Settings:
- Use OAuth 2.0 authentication for security
- Enable push for all data types to Planning Center
- Use daily batch processing for efficient organization
- Configure automatic batch commitment
- Set appropriate default fund for general donations
Best For: Churches using Planning Center as their primary management system
Bidirectional Configuration (Advanced Users)
Purpose: Keep both systems completely synchronized
Settings:
- Enable both push and pull for all data types
- Use real-time sync for immediate updates
- Configure enhanced error handling
- Monitor performance closely
- Implement comprehensive logging
Best For: Organizations actively using both platforms with different user groups
WeGive Primary Configuration
Purpose: Use Planning Center for reporting while managing donations in WeGive
Settings:
- Focus on push operations to Planning Center
- Maintain Planning Center fund structure
- Use batch processing for organized accounting
- Limited pull operations for fund synchronization only
Best For: Organizations transitioning to WeGive while maintaining Planning Center reporting
Configuration Best Practices
Initial Setup
- Choose OAuth 2.0: Recommended for new implementations
- Test Thoroughly: Use test connection before enabling sync
- Start with Push Only: Begin with WeGive → Planning Center flow
- Monitor Closely: Watch logs during first week of operation
- Validate Batches: Review daily batch processing for accuracy
Ongoing Management
- Regular Reviews: Check configuration monthly
- Performance Monitoring: Track sync times and success rates
- Error Analysis: Review and resolve integration errors promptly
- Batch Validation: Verify daily batch processing completion
- Settings Optimization: Adjust configuration based on usage patterns
Security Considerations
- Credential Rotation: Update OAuth credentials annually
- Access Control: Limit who can modify integration settings
- Audit Logging: Maintain records of configuration changes
- Data Privacy: Ensure compliance with data protection regulations
Troubleshooting Configuration Issues
Common Problems
Issue: Authentication failures
- Check: Verify OAuth credentials or legacy tokens are correct
- Verify: Ensure proper scopes are configured in Planning Center
- Review: Check network connectivity and firewall settings
Issue: Batch processing failures
- Check: Verify default fund ID is valid and active
- Verify: Ensure proper permissions for batch creation
- Review: Check for data validation errors in transactions
Issue: Duplicate records being created
- Check: Correlation ID mapping is working correctly
- Verify: Email matching is functioning properly
- Review: Duplicate detection settings are enabled
Issue: Performance problems
- Check: API rate limiting compliance
- Verify: Batch size settings are optimal
- Review: Sync frequency matches data volume needs
Configuration Validation
Required Settings Check:
- Authentication credentials are valid and tested
- Default fund ID exists and is active
- All required permissions are granted
- Network connectivity is confirmed
Data Quality Verification:
- Field mappings are configured correctly
- Duplicate detection is working properly
- Error handling is appropriately configured
- Batch processing is functioning correctly
This comprehensive configuration guide ensures optimal setup and ongoing management of your WeGive Planning Center integration for efficient church management and donation processing.