Creating the church budget for this upcoming year was more frustrating than usual. It’s not because there wasn’t a clear vision for the upcoming year or the vision didn’t align with the mission. It wasn’t because there was insufficient data to create a realistic income forecast based on giving and attendance trends. And it wasn’t because the ministry and operations teams were negligent in submitting their projected expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. It was the toll of inflation on almost every line item on the budget. It’s not surprising that landscapers need to increase their monthly costs; they are getting hit from all sides – increased workers’ compensation, gasoline, wages, etc. The same is true for the cost of cleaning supplies, quarterly HVAC maintenance, utilities, youth camps, curriculum, and so on. Depending on your church’s circumstances, inflation may impact the rent or mortgage payment. The frustration lies in wanting to accomplish the mission, knowing it costs more to do less.
Inflation’s Impact
Since church income primarily depends on the generosity of those attending, and no one is immune to the impact of inflation, it’s naive to think inflation doesn’t impact giving. According to the data from Overflow, only 5 to 10% of church attendees tithe. For those unfamiliar with the term “tithe,” it simply means a tenth. That means in a church with an average of 500 attendees on a Sunday morning, only 25 to 50 of them give a tithe. The good news is that this mighty but small band of donors is committed to the cause, and approximately three-fourths give beyond 10%.
Why December Is Important
As December rolls around, churches must be more strategic than ever to maximize donations. Why December? First, people are generally more generous in December. Second, December is the highest-giving month of the year. Brady Shearer from Nucleus has the data to back up this claim. Shearer reports that 14.34% of a church’s annual donations come in December – almost double most other months. Churches need this large influx of donations to carry the load for the leaner months.
Maximizing December’s Giving
With so much at stake this year, churches that want to maximize their December giving should evaluate these three areas:
- Remove Barriers to Giving – We see it everywhere, every day – we live in a digital age. For the majority of people, it’s commonplace to use online transactions via ACH or other methods to pay bills or transfer money. Donating to a church needs to be just as easy. Churches without a digital giving platform must immediately seek a reputable vendor (there are plenty of options like PushPay, Tithe.ly, and EasyTithe, just to name a few ) and deploy a digital giving solution.
- Communicate Donor Impact – Donors and potential donors want to hear the impact of their gift. Provide stories highlighting how the church made a difference locally in the community and globally. How many people did the benevolence fund help, and what were the results? What programs helped people cross the line of faith this year? Are there stories from supported missionaries that show the result of their work? Inspire confidence in how every donated dollar makes a difference and pursues the church’s mission.
- Target the Core – The data shows that between 5 to 10% of the church tithes, but those often give more than 10%. They are committed to the mission of your church. This December, use the church’s database to correspond with this valuable group of supporters, allowing them to see the return on their investment this year and inspire them to donate more. Share specific financial needs and let them decide if they can contribute above and beyond their regular giving to support the initiative.
December is an essential month for churches. People are at their most generous, and the donations in December are almost double that of other months. Churches must remove barriers to giving by offering digital (online) options, effectively communicating the donation’s impact, and targeting the core group of givers using the church database. This December, don’t let inflation create frustration. Instead, develop a giving strategy and then put the focus back on the one whom we celebrate, the greatest gift of all time – Jesus.
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