Have You Marked Off These Items on Your Church Giving Checklist?

What giving goals would you like to achieve within your ministry? While I’m sure you have your own goals in mind already, here are a few priority items to consider adding to your ministry’s church giving checklist.

Increase Participation in Giving

Every church leader would love to see 100% giving participation in their congregation, but this just isn’t reality. According to reporting by Christianity Today and Relevant Magazine, only 10-25% of the average congregation tithes at least 10% of their income.

Of course, no one wants to be known as the pastor who harps on church giving all the time. But if you never talk about giving, your members may forget its importance. Don’t be afraid to bring it up if your church’s giving levels aren’t what they ought to be.

Improve Outreach to Your Community

It costs money just to keep the lights on and the sanctuary warm. Not to mention you need to pay the staff, meet the needs of the congregation, and support missions endeavors. There are so many other needs in every local church that cost money. But what percentage of your church’s budget is devoted to meeting the needs (spiritual and physical) of the community around you, including those living in poverty?

Sadly, for many churches, this is one of the last line items to be considered. Make it a priority item on your checklist and see how you can influence and improve both your church community and the world outside your doors.

Modernize Your Church Giving Options

Not only should modernizing church giving be an important item on your checklist, but it will actually help you accomplish the above items, too! Churches that accept electronic or mobile payments see an increase in giving and giving consistency. According to 2015 research by Sharefaith, 49% of church giving transactions at that time were by card or electronic. Not having this option in place prevents some who want to give (but are unprepared with cash or check) from doing so.

Implementing modern church giving is incredibly easy to accomplish. Givelify, for example, allows your members to give electronically from anywhere, with no up-front or monthly/yearly costs for your ministry. You get a code to place an online giving button directly on your website, and they take care of the rest.

Once your church starts focusing more on these items on your checklist, you will see an overall improvement in the strength of your congregation’s stewardship and, as a result, the well-being of your entire community.