Have you noticed your church’s offering plate getting lighter? Most people don’t have cash on hand anymore, so relying on traditional church offerings doesn’t work as well. The following ten tips to improve offerings at your church will help you raise more funds and enhance a culture of giving within your congregation.
The Bible requires that we tithe ten percent of our income to the church. However, making additional offerings on top of that ten percent is a way to show appreciation to the church and to God for the blessed lives we lead.
These days, church offering envelopes are getting lighter and lighter as fewer congregants carry cash with them to Sunday services. But savvy churches can take steps to encourage more giving in their congregation – and provide giving options that fit their congregation.
The following tips help churches increase offerings by creating a culture of giving, introducing online donations, and encouraging more participation.
Young children used to get excited, rummaging through their moms’ purses to find the money for the collection plate. The offering was just a part of Sunday service that most people didn’t question. After stories of televangelists stealing money from their congregations, Christians have become skeptical about how churches spend money given to the offering plate. This skepticism has led to less generosity towards the church.
Churches can create a culture of giving without continuously asking for cash. Pastors can share Bible verses and stories about our responsibilities to tithe, but without a culture of giving in the church, these messages get lost. We must put Christ at the center of our church; and God loves a cheerful giver. Remind parishioners of the blessings God has given us and why we must be grateful. If God remains the focus of the church, money will become less of a distraction, and people will give because they are called to do so.
Christian stewardship is our responsibility to use God’s gifts wisely. The book of Matthew uses the Parable of the Talents to explain Jesus’s feelings on the subject. In this story, a master leaves on a long trip and gives three servants talents to do with as they choose. The first servant was given five, the second two, and the last received one. The servants who received more talents, traded and earned twice the amount for their master. The servant who was given one talent feared his master, so he dug a hole and hid it. When the master returned, he was pleased with the first two servants who doubled their wealth. He honored them with more goods and honor in his home. When he heard what the third servant did with his talent, he was angry and cast him out.
We have all been given gifts and must use them to spread God’s word and care for those in need. This lesson is true for the money and skills God has given us. We must take these lessons to heart and share our gifts whenever possible to honor him.
Churches may tell congregations their offering helps the church fulfill its mission. The details are rarely discussed in depth since the request is made during Sunday service.
But people have trouble giving when they don’t understand where their money goes or how it helps. Churches who are open and honest with their parishioners about how their gifts are spent will see a significant difference in how their parishioners give. There will be more excitement and interest in the results of their gifts. Some will give more, and some more often.
Churches who share how much it costs to keep a church running help members and volunteers understand their needs. Your website should include a budget so members can learn more about your spending and give to the areas that most interest them. Adding a budget to your donate page gives members specific amounts you need and subtly encourages people to act on your behalf without having to ask them for another offering.
Pro tip: Add a goal thermometer to your donation page on the church website. That way, every time people visit to make a donation, they will see the meter moving toward the goal. This not only gives them a sense of transparency but also encourages them to give more than they otherwise would. But remember to provide ample details about why you’ve set that goal.
Check out how this church used a goal meter to increase giving urgency and transparency on their Donorbox Crowdfunding page –
In addition to general expenses, churches may have projects, mission trips, or families that need support. The best way to get your congregation excited is by sharing these projects on your website and asking for help spreading the word and raising funds.
Crowdfunding campaigns have been successful for many churches looking to raise money for a specific goal. These types of campaigns harness the power of the crowd to bring in big funds for your church. Share your crowdfunding campaign on social media and encourage your congregation to do the same.
The average donation amount to a crowdfunding campaign is $66. This means that even a handful of donors can come together to create real change in your church!
Pro tip: Crowdfunding works best when you keep the campaign momentum going by sharing regular updates. Donorbox Crowdfunding makes it easy for your supporters to sign up for updates and stay in the loop! You can also post regular updates right on your crowdfunding page so any newcomers can see your progress.
Churches can encourage offerings with stories from those who need help or success stories from those who have benefitted from your church’s support. People are drawn to real stories and people over vague requests.
For-profit companies use this idea all the time with testimonials on their websites. Hearing directly how a product has helped someone is better than any costly marketing campaign. Nonprofits encourage donations by sharing success stories of people who have benefited from their programs.
You can do the same with stories about families and individuals whose lives have been changed thanks to God’s work through your church. Videos and letters can be added throughout your website or on a separate page to entice members to give.
As we have already mentioned, fewer people carry cash. Even checks have lost their popularity. Passing the church offerings plate around on Sunday morning does not bring in the same amount of money it did in the past.
63% of donors in the United States and Canada would rather give online. You should be encouraging your congregation to give online with credit or debit cards – but it’s important to make cashless giving before, during, and after your service as easy as possible!
That’s where text-to-give comes in. With Donorbox Text-to-Give, your parishioners can simply text your campaign ID or unique keyword to the text-to-give number to receive a link to your online donation form. It’s easy to set up, and even easier for your donors to give. When they choose to give again, they can easily repeat their gift with just a text.
Plus, UltraSwift™ Pay makes their checkout process a breeze. Donors can use their preferred digital wallet to skip adding their contact information, making for a 4x faster checkout experience.
Get inspiration from these successful text-to-give campaigns!
Looking for an even easier cashless giving option for your congregants? A donation kiosk allows your donors to give with cards, smartphones, and smartwatches – aka, the things they have with them on Sundays!
The Donorbox Live™ Kiosk app makes it easy to build your donation kiosk. Simply download the app onto your tablet, pair a card reader, and start accepting convenient offerings.
Church Deacons hold the offering plate during Sunday services. Smaller churches will sometimes let children pass the plate on Sunday evenings. Whoever does it holds their head high because they are an essential part of the church’s collection. Online fundraising campaigns can give individuals in your church the same feeling!
Churches and individuals that start crowdfunding and peer-to-peer campaigns have found great success. Parishioners have the chance to participate in the vital practice of raising funds for their church and are excited to share their church’s good deeds with their family and friends. Individuals can share their campaign’s success every time they receive a donation or reach their fundraising goal. They can tell their own story about what church means to them and why they love God.
Donorbox Peer-to-Peer allows you to create a new campaign and invite your fundraisers via email. Alternatively, you can invite anyone to fundraise on your behalf, the way Unfolding World did on their campaign.
Everyone wants to feel appreciated! The IRS requires 501(c)(3) churches to send acknowledgments to donors who give a certain amount.
Although some donors will need a receipt to claim their donations on their taxes, donors of all levels deserve a proper thank you. Sending personalized cards or letters is a great way to connect to donors and encourage them to give again. Acknowledging church offerings costs little to no extra money and takes only a few minutes, but it can make a huge difference in how people feel about your church.
Sunday service is not the best time to request an offering anymore. People have less cash and are tired of hearing the same request over and over again. Pastors would rather spend sermons sharing God’s message than begging for money.
Instead, consider hosting fundraising events that will attract funds from your church members and the public. This will provide a fun, experiential way for people to support your church.
Consider what your parishioners would be interested in. A formal event like a gala? Or a casual family picnic? You’ll also need to consider your budget and staff bandwidth when planning events.
If your church needs to raise more to support your important initiatives, now may be the time to seriously look at your church’s culture of giving and add a few new fundraising techniques to your repertoire. Fundraising may feel uncomfortable, but in reality, your church needs offerings to survive. Your church services are not bringing in the amounts they have in the past, so encouraging online donations or adding a few new events may be just the ticket.
Donorbox has powerful features for churches of all sizes. Learn more tips about online fundraising, event management, and new ways to reach a larger audience on our Nonprofit Blog. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our top resources right in your inbox.
Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.
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Kristine Ensor
