As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to inspire generosity in your church and finish strong towards your year-end giving goals for 2020. 30% of annual giving happens in December alone, and 10% of giving happens in the final 3 days of the year. It’s also the perfect time to set the stage for 2021 and look at how year-end giving can help your church plan for the future.
“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”
This quote from Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol feels especially relevant as we reach the end of 2020. In the midst of a global pandemic, many people are looking for hope and opportunities to make a positive impact. With these things in mind, our team has put together these year-end giving tips to help your church rise to the occasion to finish 2020 on a high note.
1. Share the stories of success and opportunities from 2020
Take some time to reflect on how the church’s giving has fared over the last year with all the changes. Mention areas where you were able to see the generosity of the church come through and meet your goals, as well as areas that are still opportunities for year-end giving.
2. Cast your vision for 2021
With all the changes happening, share how God is using your church now and what new areas of opportunity there are to share the Gospel and minister to your community in 2021. Talk about what the new giving goals will look like and how donors can partner with your church and give now so that year-end giving can help you with a strong start.
3. Increase visibility of your online giving
Churches everywhere saw major spikes in online giving this year with so many families attending church and giving online. Look at your church website and mobile app’s traffic over the past several months to identify areas where giving forms or buttons can be placed to make it easier for visitors to find how they can give online.
4. Take another look at your thank you messages
Take some time to review how you communicate to those who give tithes and donations online. Do you send any kind of a thank you message or response? Did you know that those who give online are more likely to become recurring givers when churches send thank you messages or follow up with more information about how their gifts are making a difference?
5. Encourage your donors to enroll in recurring giving
When donors sign up for recurring giving, it allows your church to plan ahead for the future and know you can count on the funds you need to reach your ministry goals. Make sure your church understands this and sees the value in recurring giving to their church on a schedule that works for them (e.g. once a month, twice a month, bi-weekly, etc.). You can even let people know they can set up recurring giving after they process a one-time donation.
BONUS TIP:
You can combine the ideas mentioned above into an online campaign that uses email and social media to deliver a continuous message that tells your church’s story and how giving has impacted the ministry you’re doing. Tie these things together to let your audience know how they can get involved through online giving and other means and stay connected with updates and information throughout the process.
Next Steps
As you look to finish strong with year-end giving, make sure you’re planning for the future at the same time. Online giving is becoming more and more crucial for churches that are looking to overcome decreased in-person attendance and growing need for innovative ministry resources. If you’re ready to partner with a solution that makes online giving fast and easy for you and your people, e360 Giving is the right solution for you.
Whether you’re looking to just get started with online giving or in the market for a better solution for your church’s needs, e360 Giving is quick and simple to get setup. Visit our website to get started today!
