Why Ignoring Mobile Giving Will Cost You Donations

Are you unsure about adopting a mobile giving option at your church? While it’s normal to be hesitant about making this type of change, avoiding this new technology is costing your church financially. If you want to see an increase in church giving, you need to look into mobile giving.

Mobile Giving Casts a Wider Net

If the only method you use for receiving church donations is the offering plate, you are limiting the amount of gifts you will receive. The only parishioners who can participate are those who have cash in their wallet or a checkbook in their purse. What about the people who don’t carry cash? Wouldn’t you like to receive their offerings, too?

By adding a mobile giving option to your church fundraising, you can enable more of your members to give. After all, the vast majority of people carry a mobile phone at all times — even in church. By allowing them to use their device to give, you will see your church giving increase.

In fact, mobile giving is already gaining popularity throughout the church and nonprofit communities. 9.5% of charitable donations come from mobile devices, and that number increases every year.

Missing Church Means Missed Offerings

Even the most dedicated and faithful churchgoers occasionally have to miss a service. Whether due to illness, family vacation, or business travel, members of your church will be absent at one point or another. Can your finances afford to lose an offering from such a regular giver?

With mobile giving, your church won’t have to miss out on that donation. Your members can use their phones to donate from anywhere, at any time. They could be sitting on a beach in Hawaii and still make their regular offering. Now that’s convenient.

Impulse Giving Is Not An Option

Unless a person is carrying a significant amount of cash, it isn’t really possible for them to make a donation on-the-spot. Even if they do have cash, they may want to give more than what they currently have in their pocket. By allowing spontaneous giving, you open your church up to a wealth of potential donations.

Take the success of the 2010 “Text for Haiti” campaign for example. According to Pew Research Center:

50% of donors gave immediately upon hearing about the campaign

23% donated on the same day they learned about it

74% of those who made a donation were first time mobile givers

If someone feels moved to make a donation at any given moment, they should be able to. If not, you will miss out on that much-needed gift. That’s why it’s imperative that you set up a mobile giving option and cater to impulse giving.