7 Tips For Making Online Giving a Part of Your Church’s Platform
How much cash do you have on you right this moment? It’s not surprising if the answer is zero, as many people don’t carry cash anymore. And if they do, it’s usually a small enough amount that buying a lunch or two — or funding the kids’ latest school fee need — brings the amount down to a few dollars or less. 7 Tips For Making Online Giving a Part of Your Church’s Platform
What does this have to do with online giving? Well, with people carrying less cash, churches may find it harder to develop donors through traditional means. Even if people plan to have money for the offering plate on Sundays, they won’t always have enough cash to allow giving to special causes or as the Spirit leads.
And yet, many churches struggle to make online giving a part of their platform even after setting up the technology. Whether you’re not sure how to launch online giving or find that it’s not working as well as you thought, get seven tips below to integrate it more fully into your processes.
Want to find out more about how to promote online giving once people are on your website? Check out 15 donation page examples to help boost donations.
1. Make a Big Deal When Launching a New Giving Option
Treat it like you’re launching a new ministry because that’s what you’re doing. Online giving lets your congregation serve and support each other and those outside your church in a modern way.
It’s important to make individual members feel welcome using the technology. Ensure your messaging points out that every donation matters and online giving doesn’t have to be big to be a blessing.
Individuals provide the biggest source of funding for both churches and charitable organizations. While it might seem like courting corporate or agency donors is a good idea — after all, their budgets run larger than those of family households — around 70 percent of donations come from individuals. With that in mind, many small amounts add up to meet large needs.
2. Make Online Giving a Regular Part of Donor Development
Churches that get the initial messaging about online giving correct often make a mistake after the fact. That mistake is forgetting to mention online options ever again.
Ensure your processes for encouraging donors always include a mention of online options. Here are some ways to keep people aware of online giving:
- Include a note about giving options in printed bulletins along with a QR code that makes it easy for mobile users to navigate to the site or download the app
- Mention online options from the pulpit when you’re talking about tithing or during offertory thoughts
- Include a list of giving options on the big screen if your church projects announcements
- Put a link or button for giving in a prominent location on your website
3. Ensure the Process Is Fast and Easy
Did you know most people will navigate away from a web page that doesn’t load in around three seconds? People have high expectations for convenience with digital solutions, so ensure the process for online giving is as easy as possible.
One way to make the giving process easy for congregants is to place donation kiosks in your building. That puts them in charge of giving, whether they want to do so digitally or not. Find out more about the benefits of donation kiosks.
4. Get Buy In From Leadership Early
People can be nervous about trying new things, and online giving might be one of them. The more traditional your congregation, the truer this might be. One way to get people comfortable with digital giving is to ensure leadership goes first. That can include pastors, worship leaders, deacons or elders–and anyone else that tends to be influential within the membership.
Approach these individuals and explain online giving. Ask them to try it out and let others know what they think.
5. Ensure Online Giving Options Are Mobile Friendly
Around 85 percent of Americans own a smartphone, and many people use those devices as their main connection to the internet. If your digital giving solutions aren’t mobile friendly, they’re not going to work for much of your donor list. Plus, you want people to be able to give as they feel led, and expecting them to remember that they wanted to donate next time they’re around a computer isn’t that effective.
6. Create Campaigns Around Online Giving
Don’t just market the fact that you have digital giving options. Put a purpose behind those campaigns. Let people know they can give online, and mention that you’re currently taking donations for the upcoming youth mission trip, for example. When people know the purpose behind donations, they’re more likely to give.
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7. Build Online Giving Options into Offertory Times
Less than three percent of people in America actually tithe 10 percent of their income. And while many give charitably in other places or don’t believe the New Testament demands 10 percent, this fact does mean there’s probably room to grow donations during in-church worship sessions. As the plate is passed for cash or check tithes, ensure people know they can also take out their smartphones and arrange a digital tithe.
How DonorWerx Can Help
DonorWerx’s online giving program helps churches move through the process of setting up online giving, promoting it and developing donors around it. Our solutions include options for coaching, leadership development and giving software.
Are you ready to offer online giving in your church or increase the fruits that come from it? Get started now.
