Manage Covenant House

How to cancel your covenant house monthly donation in 2024

Why you might cancel your covenant house donation

Life happens. Your financial situation changes, priorities shift, or you discover a charge you didn't expect. At Stopee, we talk with thousands of donors who cancel recurring gifts, and the reasons are often practical: a tighter budget, duplicate charges, unclear billing, or simply wanting to redirect support elsewhere.

Covenant House, a national nonprofit providing shelter and crisis services to homeless youth, relies on monthly donors to sustain meals, beds, and case management. But that doesn't mean you're locked in. If you've decided to cancel your recurring donation, this guide walks you through every step, from finding the right cancellation method to confirming the charges have actually stopped.

Financial stress and budget reductions

The most common reason donors cancel is straightforward: money got tight. Whether you lost income, faced unexpected expenses, or reassessed your household budget, cancelling a recurring donation frees up real cash each month. Stopee understands that supporting a cause matters, but your own financial stability comes first.

Billing confusion and unexpected charges

Some donors report they were charged more than once, charged after they believed they'd cancelled, or couldn't confirm that a monthly charge actually stopped. These billing headaches are frustrating and often the tipping point for cancellation requests.

Redirecting support or changing priorities

You might want to support a different organization, switch to a local shelter in your community, or pause donations temporarily. None of these reasons require justification. Your money is yours to direct.

Your rights as a donor

Federal law protects you when you cancel a recurring payment.

The electronic funds transfer act protects your donations

Under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA), you have the right to stop any recurring electronic payment-including monthly donations charged to your bank account or credit card-before the transfer is made. You do not need permission from the charity. You do not need to provide a reason. The organization must process your cancellation request and confirm it.

The FTC's negative option rule applies here

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Negative Option Rule, which requires organizations that charge recurring donations to honor cancellation requests promptly. If a charity continues charging you after you've submitted a valid cancellation, that violates federal law. You can file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov if cancellation is denied or ignored.

Your state may offer additional protections

Many states have their own consumer protection laws that cover recurring charges. If Covenant House is slow to process your cancellation or continues charging after you've requested to stop, you can also escalate to your state's attorney general office or department of consumer protection.

Cancellation methods for covenant house monthly donations

Covenant House offers three main ways to cancel your recurring donation, each with different contact details and processing times.

Cancel online using the donor portal

The fastest method is to cancel directly through Covenant House's Donor Portal, where you originally set up your monthly gift. You can log in, view your recurring donation, and cancel it immediately. This method gives you instant confirmation and leaves a digital record.

Call the donor care team by phone

If you prefer speaking to a person, Covenant House's Donor Care team handles cancellation requests by phone. This method is useful if you have questions or want real-time confirmation.

Cancel by mail with written documentation

You can also submit a written cancellation request by mail, though this is slower and leaves less digital proof. You'll need to include your full name, the email or phone number associated with your account, and a clear request to cancel your recurring donation.

How to cancel your covenant house donation step by step

Follow these exact steps for your chosen cancellation method, and you'll have confirmation before you leave the process.

Method 1: cancel online via the donor portal

1. Visit the Covenant House website at covenanthouse.org
2. Look for the "Manage Your Donation" or "Donor Portal" link, typically found under the "Donate" or "Support Us" menu
3. Log in with the email address and password you used when you set up your monthly donation
   • If you forgot your password, select "Forgot Password" and follow the reset instructions
4. Navigate to "My Recurring Donations" or "Subscription Management"
5. Find the active monthly donation you want to cancel and select it
6. Look for a "Cancel Donation," "Pause," or "Stop Giving" button
7. Confirm any warning messages that appear (the system may ask why you're leaving)
8. Screenshot or save the confirmation page that confirms your cancellation is effective immediately or on your next scheduled charge date
   • Pro tip: Email this confirmation to yourself for your records

Method 2: call covenant house donor care

1. Dial 1-800-388-3888 during business hours (typically Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time)
2. Explain to the representative that you want to cancel your monthly recurring donation
3. Have your account information ready, including:
   • The email address associated with your donation
   • Your full name
   • The phone number on file
   • The credit card or bank account ending digits (if you remember them)
4. Ask the representative to confirm the cancellation date and when your last charge will process
5. Request a cancellation confirmation number or reference code
6. Write down the confirmation number, the representative's name, and the date and time of the call
7. Pro tip: Ask the representative to email you a written cancellation confirmation. If they decline, send yourself a follow-up email right after the call recapping what you discussed

Method 3: cancel by mail

1. Download or print the Covenant House donation cancellation form from their website, or create a simple letter on plain paper
2. Include the following in your letter or form:
   • Your full legal name
   • The email address associated with your account
   • Your phone number
   • The date you set up the recurring donation (if you remember it)
   • A clear statement: "I request immediate cancellation of my monthly recurring donation to Covenant House, effective immediately"
   • Your signature and the date
3. Mail your request to the address provided on Covenant House's contact page (visit covenanthouse.org/about-us/contact-us for the current mailing address)
4. Send the letter via Certified Mail with Return Receipt so you have proof it was delivered
   • Warning: Regular mail can take 1 to 2 weeks to arrive and be processed. Use this method only if you're not in a hurry
5. Keep your tracking number and the signed return receipt in a safe folder

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation doesn't end instantly in every case. Understanding the timeline protects you from unexpected charges.

Timing of the final charge

If you cancel before your next billing date, you won't be charged again. If you cancel after your billing date has passed but before the charge posts, you may still see one final charge. If you cancel mid-cycle, that charge typically processes as scheduled, and then the donation stops. Always confirm your cancellation includes a specific "final charge date" or "cancellation effective date."

Verify the cancellation on your bank or credit card statement

After 1 to 2 billing cycles (typically 30 to 60 days), check your bank account or credit card statement to confirm that no new charges from Covenant House have appeared. If you're using Stopee's cancellation tracking tools, note the expected final charge date and monitor your statements on that date and for the two months after.

Look for unexpected or duplicate charges

In rare cases, a charge may still appear after cancellation. If you see a charge dated after your cancellation confirmation, contact Donor Care immediately at 1-800-388-3888 with your cancellation confirmation number. Request a refund of the unauthorized charge.

Refunds and chargebacks

If Covenant House charged you after you cancelled, you have options to recover that money.

Request a refund directly from covenant house

Call Donor Care at 1-800-388-3888 and explain the charge you want refunded. Provide your cancellation confirmation number and the date of the unauthorized charge. Most organizations will issue a refund within 5 to 10 business days if they confirm the charge was made after your cancellation was processed.

File a dispute with your bank or credit card company

If Covenant House refuses to refund the charge, contact your bank or credit card issuer and dispute the transaction. Explain that you cancelled your recurring donation and that the charge appeared afterward. Provide your cancellation confirmation number. Your bank will investigate and may refund you while they look into the claim. This process typically takes 1 to 2 months, but you're usually refunded within 10 business days during the investigation.

Report the charge to the FTC

If the unauthorized charge continues or Covenant House ignores your refund request, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include your cancellation confirmation number, the dates of unauthorized charges, and any email or phone documentation of your cancellation request.

Pricing tiers and monthly donation amounts

Understanding what you've been paying helps you confirm cancellation is working and decide if you'd rather reduce your gift instead of stopping it.

Common cancellation mistakes to avoid

Donors often make small mistakes that delay cancellation or leave them still paying. Stopee has tracked these patterns, and avoiding them saves you time and money.

Not saving your cancellation confirmation

If you cancel online and don't screenshot the confirmation page, you have no proof the cancellation went through. Always save or print the confirmation. If you cancel by phone, always write down the confirmation number and the date. These details matter if a charge appears later and you need to dispute it.

Cancelling only through your bank, not directly with covenant house

Asking your bank to block all charges from Covenant House (via a stop-payment order) works, but it doesn't notify the charity that you've cancelled. The better approach is to cancel directly with Covenant House using one of the three methods above, then monitor your statement to confirm. Direct cancellation creates accountability on both sides.

Assuming cancellation is complete without checking your next statement

Don't assume the first billing cycle without a charge means you're done. Wait through at least two full billing cycles (60 days) and confirm your statement shows no new Covenant House charges. Early confirmation gives you time to escalate if a charge does appear.

Not checking your email for confirmation after cancelling online

Some donors cancel but never check email for the confirmation message. That email is your receipt. If a dispute arises, that timestamped email is evidence of when you cancelled.

After cancellation: a checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your cancellation is complete and documented.

1. Save or print your cancellation confirmation (from email, online portal, phone call, or certified mail receipt)
2. Write down the cancellation date, confirmation number, and the method you used
3. Wait 1 to 2 billing cycles (30 to 60 days)
4. Check your bank account or credit card statement to confirm no Covenant House charge appears
5. If a charge does appear, contact Donor Care at 1-800-388-3888 immediately with your confirmation number
6. Keep all documentation (confirmations, statements, call notes) for at least one year

Comparing cancellation methods at a glance

Each cancellation method has trade-offs. This table helps you choose based on speed, proof, and convenience.

What customers say about cancelling covenant house donations

Donors who cancel often report the process was smoother than expected. Many praise the Donor Care team for being responsive. A smaller group report delays in cancellation confirmation or continued charges after requesting cancellation. Stopee recommends using the online Donor Portal when possible because it leaves the clearest digital trail and processes instantly.

Contact information for covenant house

Save these details for quick reference if you need to follow up after cancellation.

Donor Care Phone Line: 1-800-388-3888

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Website: covenanthouse.org

Contact Page: covenanthouse.org/about-us/contact-us

For FTC Complaints: reportfraud.ftc.gov

Final thoughts on cancelling your covenant house donation

Stopping a recurring donation is your right, and you don't need anyone's permission. Whether your finances changed, you found billing confusion, or you simply want to redirect your support elsewhere, Covenant House's cancellation process is straightforward when you know the steps. Use the online Donor Portal for the fastest result, save your confirmation, and monitor your statement for 60 days to confirm the charge has stopped. If you run into trouble, the Donor Care team is reachable by phone, and federal law (the EFTA and FTC Negative Option Rule) backs your cancellation request.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel recurring donations, subscriptions, and memberships. If you're cancelling other services and need step-by-step guidance, visit stopee.com for detailed cancellation guides on hundreds of companies and nonprofits. When you're in control of your recurring charges, you're in control of your budget.