(Type 7)

The Spontaneous Donor

donor img
mackbook-m

Donor Type 7:

Growing The Spontaneous Donor

In the Enneagram Model, which we based our DonorWerx Donor Personalities Test on, Type Seven characters are spontaneous and versatile. You might recognize several of this type within your congregation. We refer to them as the Spontaneous Donors.

One the one hand, Spontaneous Donors are quite acquisitive and can be scatterbrained. But, on the other hand, this is the one donor type that remains faithful to service and is a loyal, giving church member.

In this article, we define the Spontaneous Donor, the best ways for you to engage them, and how you can nurture them and grow their faith.

girl-icon

The Following Terms Describe a Spontaneous Donor Best

  • Spontaneous
  • Emotional
  • Natural
  • Emotional
  • A genuine character
  • Authentic
  • Life of the Party
  • Curious
  • Talkative
  • Unstructured
  • Instinctive
  • Free
  • Spur-of-the-moment

What Motivates the Spontaneous Donor?

Being spontaneous is not necessarily a bad thing. Spontaneous donors are often game to try something new, including a fresh way of giving or contributing to the church. Because they’re never happy doing the same thing day in and day out, they look to you, as a spiritual leader, to provide inspiration and fuel their passion.

The Spontaneous Donor is probably the one who spices up your Sunday Service, putting their full self into the picture and not just hanging out with the rest of the congregation. If you have invited them to take part in an outreach project, the Spontaneous Donor is the one you will see taking the lead and coming up with exciting ways to carry out your mission.

Unfamiliar environments motivate them. Big passion projects excite them. And, as you may have guessed, spiritual leaders who can guide them through the ups and downs of life are crucial to their survival.

Spontaneous-Donors

What Are Spontaneous Donors Most Passionate About?

  • Giving their time
  • Using their natural talents and skills to make a difference
  • Trying new things
  • Getting out of routines and finding out what works better
  • Being invited to a last-minute church meeting with an inspiring speaker
  • Going with the flow

Character Example of a Spontaneous Donor

The late actor Robin Williams put a lot of passion and emotion into his craft. People knew him for his amiable personality and his genuine interest in other human beings. We remember him for his enormous heart, the times he laughed and shed tears (and made us do the same), and his spirit of giving.

Character-Example-img

How Can You Engage the Spontaneous Donor?

The enthusiasm of the Spontaneous Donor is contagious, as is their giving attitude. Their superpower is the ability to influence others and spark thoughtful, lasting change.

This type is a great donor to have present during public fundraising events and projects. They are simply a joy to be around. However, experienced church leaders know they are prone to sudden bursts of emotion as well, and their giving largely depends on how they feel "that" day.

We must nurture spontaneous donors. Churches would be wise to build deeper relationships with these types of donors and have a giving attitude toward them as well. They need to be treated with patience and acceptance.

Engage them by accepting them, acknowledging the need for folks like them in the community, and always listen to their suggestions. They just might give you insights into how you can attract other donors to your important missions.

Also, if you are trying out new digital ways of giving, the Spontaneous Donor will be willing to make the change. It won’t be that hard to convince them of a more efficient way to give to the church or why your giving platform is ideal for their lifestyle.

Practical Ways to Encourage Spontaneous Donors

Remember that you encourage the Spontaneous Donor by listening to their suggestions and even asking their opinions for making a church event more engaging, fun and inspired. Get them involved in hands-on activities, such as:

  • Organizing events for the church
  • Volunteering for youth activities
  • Planning your next fundraiser
  • Brainstorming the lineup for speakers for your upcoming online events
  • Creating or attending online workshops
thank-you-icon

BEST WAYS TO THANK A SPONTANEOUS DONOR

The Spontaneous Donor feels most appreciated when you welcome them with open arms. If you have these types of donors in your congregation, don’t take them for granted. Show your thankfulness to them in specific ways. When thanking them, include details such as:

  • Why their donation matters
  • What their donation accomplished
  • Why you are excited to have them as part of the community
  • Details on whose life changed because of their generosity

Showing your appreciation by including these details also gives them a better understanding of the bigger picture and why their contributions are so invaluable to your cause.

Bible Verses on Giving to Inspire You as You Lead Spontaneous Donors

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

For more tips on understanding Spontaneous Donors and caring for them, check out our extensive digital library of church pastor resources.

Schedule a Discovery Call with us at DonorWerx today and improve your church’s ability to thrive through online giving.

Related Resources

The Purposeful Donor and the Spontaneous Donor (Type 1 and 7)

The Purposeful Donor and the Spontaneous Donor (Type 1 and 7) In this article on Donor Personalities,...

Type Seven: The Spontaneous Donor

Type Seven: The Spontaneous Donor In our Donor personality test, we gave you pastors an easy way to recognize...

How to Appeal to the Spontaneous Donor

How to Appeal to the Spontaneous Donor In our Donor Personality Test, you learned about various traits of...