Over the course of the year, due to COVID-19 and the inability for congregations to meet regularly, thousands of churches across the country have now bought into the idea of recurring giving. This has enabled churches to take convenient giving a step further by allowing givers to set up their own automated giving schedule, whether they are attending sermons in person or from the comfort of their home.
As more and more churches continue to adapt to online and mobile giving, many are discovering that providing the option of setting up recurring giving directly correlates with increased giving. In fact, recurring donors give 42% more per year than those who make a one-time gift.
Here are a few ways to help boost recurring giving in your church and completely change the outlook of your church’s financial well-being
After all that has transpired in 2020, many churches have come across the unfortunate circumstances of temporarily closing their doors to the public, or at least limiting the number of members that can congregate. With recurring giving, your members can set up scheduled payments so their ability to tithe is not impacted by their inability to attend regularly. Members can watch sermons from the comfort of their own home and still be able to contribute regularly by setting up weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly recurring donation schedules. This is also a great way to promote consistent giving during vacations, holidays, or anything that may occur in the lives of your members that prevent them from attending in person.
Does your church already offer recurring giving via online or text giving? If so, are your members even aware? Consistently communicate the ways by which members can contribute. Recurring online gifts are perfect for regular weekly or monthly tithing. There are several ways to raise awareness of recurring giving. Sunday morning announcements are effective, but don’t limit yourself to one avenue. Highlight the easy-to-use giving option in your email updates to your members, posting announcements on your church website, or carving out a section in your weekly bulletin are all constructive ways to communicate with the church at large.
As we mentioned earlier, on average, recurring donors give 42% more per year than those who make a one-time gift. The lifetime value of that small, but regular donation often adds up to being higher than that of a large, one-time donation. The other reason, which is often overlooked, is that many recurring givers will give additional gifts outside their regularly scheduled donation. They will often increase their donation too. It’s likely your younger generation of givers do not have the resources to give in large amounts. Starting them out with a recurring giving schedule of just $10 or $20 every other week can help get the ball rolling with tithing on a regular basis.
Like any sort of donation, your members will always be elated to know that their recurring gifts have made an impact on your church. Visually show the impact that is being made by God using your members’ generosity to help inside (and outside) of your church walls. Create videos or slideshows to use during your sermons showcasing the work your church is doing as a direct result of their recurring giving. You can also create recurring giving “goals” for a future church project or campaign and provide weekly or monthly updates on the progress you’ve made and how their recurring giving is making a lasting impact on your church’s long-term success.