Four Creative Ways to Boost Year-End Giving at Your Church

What is your church focused on this December?

Hopefully you are focused on pointing people to Christ. But what does this look like practically speaking for churches in December? Often it involves a lot of time and energy spent on creating and promoting Christmas services.

What can sometimes get lost is the value of a creative, year-end giving campaign. It may seem a little off-putting to focus on raising money, rather than on Christ. But our focus is not on the amount of money coming in, rather than, a focus on what those donations allow us to do to impact more lives with the gospel.

How Will You Encourage Year-End Giving This Year?

If you have taken the time to create a mission and vision for your church, and establish your growth engines and goals, then you know it takes financial resources to accomplish that vision.

Encouraging giving at the end of a calendar year can help your church be able to execute that vision in the coming year. According to Donorbox.org, nonprofits bring in 47% of their online revenue the last week in December.

Just imagine how much more effective your church could be, just by intentionally creating a year-end giving campaign to inspire generosity at the end of the year.

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4 Creative Ways to Encourage Year-End Giving At Your Church

Here are four innovative ways to boost contributions at your church this December:

Interactive Giving Thermometer

Turn the act of giving into a visually engaging and interactive experience by introducing a giving thermometer. Set up a large display in a prominent area of the church or on your website, illustrating the financial goal for the year-end campaign.

As contributions come in, update the thermometer to reflect the progress. This real-time visual representation creates a sense of community achievement and encourages friendly competition to reach the target.

Year-End Giving Challenge

Transform giving into a game by introducing a friendly competition or challenge among church members. For example, set a collective giving goal and break it down into milestones.

As each milestone is reached, unlock special rewards or events for the entire congregation. This approach not only adds an element of excitement but also fosters a collaborative spirit among your church community.

Virtual "Gala of Gratitude"

Host a virtual event to express gratitude for the generosity of your congregation throughout the year. Create an online gala or celebration where you share stories of impact, highlight key achievements, and recognize the efforts of your church community.

During the event, encourage additional year-end contributions by showcasing specific needs or projects that require support. Consider incorporating live testimonials, musical performances, and other entertaining elements to make it a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Personalized Year-End Giving Stories

Harness the power of personal connection by featuring individual giving stories within your congregation. Invite members to share their reasons for giving, the impact they’ve witnessed, or how their contributions have made a difference in their lives.

This could be done through written testimonials, video interviews, or even live storytelling during services. Personal narratives create a relatable and emotional connection, motivating others to contribute towards the shared vision and mission of the church.

How Will You Encourage Year-End Giving This Year?

Encouraging year-end giving at your church doesn’t have to follow a one-size-fits-all approach. By embracing creativity and innovation, you can make the giving experience interactive, exciting, and meaningful for your congregation.

Whether through visual displays, friendly challenges, virtual celebrations, or personal stories, these creative strategies can infuse new energy into your year-end giving campaign and strengthen the culture of generosity within your church community.

Remember, the key is to make giving a joyful and rewarding experience that encourages generosity and reminds your congregation of why those donations matter.

Looking for a simple way to effectively increase online giving?

You don’t need an expensive giving platform with fancy bells and whistles. You need an affordable, user-friendly solution that makes online giving simple and convenient. Start using Simplify Give today.

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September 18, 2023September 18, 2023

Younger Donors are Less Trusting of Charities Than Older Generations

instill trust in your church finances image

Recent reports have discovered that younger donors are trusting charities and not for profits less than older generations.

This discovery needs to be strongly considered by churches and the pastors that lead them. According to numerous other reports, giving is down and with the rise of inflation in the United States, pastors need to consider how they are encouraging giving and generosity in their local church.

While the Biblical mandate of tithing should be sufficient, that unfortunately is not enough anymore to encourage people to be consistent givers to their church. As pastors, we have to find new ways to make generosity part of the DNA of our local ministry.

Let’s face the fact.

Giving to a local church is placing trust in that ministry that the funds will be stewarded well, and the church will do good things with the faithful gifts of the donor. People are skeptical and it’s ever more important for the local church to show it can be trusted with the sacrifice of their donors.

As pastor and church leader, we have two important roles in establishing trust to the donors of our church.

First, as we’ve already mentioned, it’s important to make generosity part of the DNA of our ministry. Not only should we talk about it, preach about it and make it part of our core values but we need to further that by exhibiting it in how ministry resources are utilized.

The key to increasing giving and generosity in the local church is to model to the donor that Their Giving equals Ministry Happening!

My Giving = Ministry Happening

This can take many forms, but the basics are that each donor needs to be shown and reminded that they play an important role in funding the ministry of the church.

Most simply, send a quarterly giving statement to each donor showing their giving Year to Date. Not only that, attach a thank you letter that shares stories of lives impacted. Provide tangible explanations of ministry that happened that was a direct result of the generosity of your donors. It cannot be shared enough, trust me.

Secondly, your donors need also to find trust in a transparent and foundational financial management system for your church.

They need to see that the funds are being stewarded and managed professionally. Gone are the days when trusting “Sister Susan” as volunteer bookkeeper.

Consider a solution like SimplifyChurch Bookkeeping to manage your church bookkeeping and accounting. Our system has proven over almost 2 decades that a solid church bookkeeping foundation is key to reaching and retaining faithful donors.

Your ministry is too important to not take giving and generosity very seriously. It’s not enough to just hope that people will be faithful. It’s not enough to assume people will see the need and step up. As pastor, you have to consistently remind your congregation that giving is not only a big step in their spiritual development but is vitally important in that success of your local ministry.

Interested in a "done for you" Church Bookkeeping System?

August 18, 2023August 18, 2023

Why Having a Vision for Your Church Matters

Where Is Your Church Headed?

Every ship requires a compass. The compass, an instrument for navigation, indicates where the ship is headed. Without it, the vessel drifts aimlessly and often ends up off course.

Similarly, when it comes to church leadership, a clearly defined vision serves as a compass, indicating where the church is headed. Casting a vision for your church isn’t merely a buzzword or helpful leadership tactic; it’s an essential component of long-term church health and ministry effectiveness.

Unfortunately, many churches lack a clear understanding of why having a vision matters, and how to go about creating and communicating that vision. In this blog post, I want to unpack what exactly a church vision is, why having vision is so important, and provide some suggestions for where to begin when it comes to creating and communicating a vision for the future of your church.

What Exactly is a Church Vision?

Crafting a vision for your church is the process of creating a clear, inspiring and compelling statement that outlines the future direction and impact of the church. It is a process that helps align the unique gifts and resources of your organization with God’s will, and wisely plan for how to best use these resources.

The vision should both reflect who you are as an organization, and set direction for where you are headed. It serves as a guidepost to help the church make better decisions, prioritize spending, and get everyone moving in a unified direction.

Does a Church Need a Vision?

Often, I find that churches – especially smaller ones – tend to shy away from vision casting. Perhaps it’s because it takes valuable time to intentionally think about who the church is, why it exists and where it is going. Perhaps it’s because church leaders simply don’t know how to do this well. Or perhaps it’s because some churches view planning for the future as a lack of trust and reliance on God.

Let me be clear, for a church, a strategic plan is not simply a projection-based exercise. It is a process that both begins and end with prayer. Ultimately, God is the one that gives vision. But we partner with God to take action toward accomplishing that vision. Our attitude in this process should always be to seek God’s will in all things and to pray that our hearts with be aligned with His.

When we do, we make space for God to move in and through our church. Creating a vision statement, then, not only aligns our actions with God’s will, it sets our church up for long-term health. Because having a vision to guide our ministry decisions, brings meaning, it sustains ministry, it motivates those that are a part of our congregation, and it energizes the growth of our organization.

Why is Vision so Important in the Church?

Having a vision is incredibly important for the health and longevity of your church. Not only does it set direction and guide ministry decisions, it sustains ministry, motivates those that are a part of the congregation, brings meaning, and energizes the growth of your organization. Here are seven reasons why we believe vision casting is an essential part of a healthy, thriving church:

1. It Clarifies Purpose

Every church has a purpose beyond Sunday services. Casting a clear vision helps members understand that larger purpose. Where there is a lack of clarity, people begin asking questions about what the goal of our church is. With a vision, the answer becomes clear.

2. It Unites The Congregation

With a shared vision, the congregation becomes united in purpose. Instead of multiple groups pulling in different directions, everyone moves forward with a common goal in mind, fostering unity and collective strength.

3. It Inspires Action

When the people of your church understand the vision, they are more likely to get involved. Whether it’s joining a ministry, participating in community outreach, or giving generously, a compelling vision can motivate action.

4. It Guides Decision-Making

For church leaders, countless decisions arise daily. Having a well-defined vision offers a touchstone against which all decisions can be measured. Does a potential program or initiative align with the vision? If not, it might be worth reconsidering.

5. It Helps Overcome Obstacles

Every church faces challenges. But with a clear vision, these challenges become surmountable obstacles rather than impassable roadblocks. The vision reminds everyone of the bigger picture and the higher calling.

6. It Encourages Generosity

When people have a vision to support, it both builds trust in how the leaders of the church are stewarding the resources, it gives people a reason to give. People are much more willing to support a cause, when they know what that cause is and why it matters.

7. It Facilitates Growth

As the saying goes, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” A church without a vision will stagnate. But with a vision, you provide a framework for growth, both spiritually and numerically.

We go into greater detail on this topic on episode 39 of the Simplify Church podcast. Listen in your favorite podcast player, or by visiting the podcast library on our website.

What if Our Church Doesn’t Have a Vision?

Unfortunately, many churches lack a clear and compelling vision for their church. If you find yourself in this position, know that you are not alone. The good news is that developing a strategic and compelling vision does not have to be a complicated process.

Here at Simplify Church we want to give you some practical tools to help you craft a vision for your church. Next week, our Chief Simplifier, Josh Henry, will be going LIVE to share a free training to help you do just this.

You can register for the training (or to get the replay) HERE.

Are You Ready to Cast a Vision for Your Church?

Casting a vision for your church is not about crafting a catchy slogan or setting unrealistic expectations. It’s about seeking God’s heart for your community and communicating that purpose with clarity and passion. As Proverbs 29:18 says, “

Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

By casting a vision, you’re ensuring your church doesn’t just survive but thrives for the glory of God.

April 26, 2023April 21, 2023

Should Churches Use Venmo to Receive Donations?

Can Churches Use Venmo for Giving?

At Simplify Church, we provide financial expertise and support to make managing church finances simple. We’ve helped hundreds of small and growing churches optimize their church finances. One question we hear often is, “Can my church use Venmo (or a similar online payment app) to accept donations?

If you aren’t familiar with the app, Venmo is a popular mobile payment service in the United States that allows users to send and receive money from their friends and family members. Venmo allows users to link their bank accounts or debit cards to the app and then use it to make payments or request money from their contacts. Venmo is free to use for personal transactions, but there are fees for using it for business transactions or transferring funds to a debit card.

Why Churches Use Venmo

Not all that long ago, we were having conversations with churches about the importance of offering online giving. Established churches were hesitant to make the leap and had concerns about transferring money electronically.

Over the last few years, there has been a dramatic shift in the conversation about online giving for churches. More and more churches have seen the value and the need to make giving simple and easy for people to do. Solutions that provide online giving, text-to-give, and allow for reoccurring donations, all make giving to churches much easier to do (and can be done from the comfort of home).

However, as with many cultural shifts, the pendulum often swings too far to the other side. If one online giving option is good, shouldn’t we offer lots of online giving options? While online giving helps both churches and their donors, there are some concerns to be aware of when using common payment apps, such as Venmo, to collect donations.

The Problem with Using Venmo for Your Church

While Venmo can be a convenient way to collect money for your church, there are some potential issues to consider.

Congress recently passed new regulations that require payment apps to issue a 1099-K for any user who has given an amount over $600 to your ministry. While a donation to your ministry is more than likely non-taxable, since these apps offer a generic money transfer, there really isn’t a way to distinguish between a donation and sale through the system.

While trying to offer numerous giving options to your ministry, this may create a hassle for your donors who may receive an automatically generated 1099-K from the provider. Additionally, this will cause more hassle and workload for your ministry, as those donations will definitely trigger a form to be produced for your organization. This will then require that you provide proof that the money given was in fact received as a donation, and no goods or services were provided in exchange.

If you do choose to receive donations through Venmo, or another generic online payment app, you may want to consult with a tax professional to ensure that your church is compliant with any relevant tax laws. Overall, Venmo can be a useful tool for collecting donations for your church, but it’s important to carefully consider the potential issues and risks before deciding to use it.

Venmo is Not Designed for Churches

Churches, which are tax-exempt non-profit organizations in the United States, should exercise caution when using Venmo to collect donations. Here are some reasons why:

1. Venmo’s terms of service prohibit commercial use: Venmo’s terms of service prohibit the use of the app for commercial purposes. While it’s possible to use Venmo to collect donations for a non-profit organization, there is a risk that Venmo may consider this to be a violation of their terms of service.
2. Lack of donor information: Venmo does not provide organizations with detailed information about their donors, which can make it difficult to issue receipts or acknowledge donations for tax purposes.
3. Difficulty tracking donations: Venmo does not provide robust reporting or tracking tools, which can make it difficult for organizations to track their donations and ensure that they are properly accounted for.
4. Compliance with IRS regulations: Non-profit organizations are subject to strict regulations regarding the collection and reporting of donations. Venmo’s lack of reporting tools and detailed donor information could make it difficult for organizations to comply with these regulations.

At the end of the day, while Venmo can be a convenient way to collect donations, it is not an app designed for churches. It’s important that churches carefully consider the potential risks and limitations of the app before deciding to use it. In our opinion, there are other, more appropriate tools and platforms available that are much better suited to the needs of churches.

Venmo Alternatives for Church Tithes and Donations

Using a giving app specifically designed for processing donations to churches is a much better option for churches (and their donors). We recommend SimplifyGive, our online giving solution created with small and growing churches in mind.

SimplifyGive is designed to make online giving simple for churches and donors. It includes text-to-give, reoccurring donations, and the ability to give online or through a mobile responsive, personalized giving page. The app is focused on keeping costs down, so that the maximum amount from each gift goes to the church for ministry. All gifts received through SimplifyGive.com are automatically identified as gifts, so they will not be subject to any taxable records to your ministry. At the same time, it offers easy-to-access, valuable church giving metrics, so that you can better lead and grow your church.

How to Choose The Right Giving Platform For Your Church

Choosing the right giving platform is an important decision for your church. While we believe in the value, the convenience, and the simplicity of SimplifyGive, here are a few things to look for as you seek to find the right giving platform for your church:

- Payment Options
  Consider what payment options are available on the platform. Does it accept credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and other payment methods that your donors are likely to use?
- Pricing Structure
  It’s important to understand the fee structure of any giving platform you are considering. Look for platforms that offer reasonable fees and simple, transparent pricing.
- Plug-and-Play Website Integration
  Does it easily integrate giving forms into your church’s website in a few simple steps?
- Customizable Giving Pages
  Do the giving forms feature your custom logo and colors, so your donors know exactly who they are giving to?
- Multiple Fund Designations
  Is the system set up to support fund accounting? If you use fund accounting, our system makes it easy for your donors to specify where they’d like to give.
- Integrated Donor Data
  Look for platforms that provide detailed donor data, including names, contact information, and donation history. This can be important for issuing receipts, acknowledging donations, and producing donor statements simply and easily.
- Security
  Make sure the platform you choose has robust security measures in place to protect your donors’ personal and financial information. SimplifyGive is PCI Level 1 compliant and provides top-notch security, giving both you and your donors peace of mind.
- Reporting and Tracking
  Consider what kind of reporting and tracking tools are available on the platform. Can you easily track donations and generate reports?

Should your church use Venmo, Paypal, Cash App or another online payment method?

Tax issues aside, there is nothing to prevent your church from using Venmo, Paypal, Cash App or another online payment method to collect tithes and donations for your church. However, using Venmo or another money transfer app is not the best option for your church. While using these apps may seem to be convenient and offering those options may be tempting to increase giving, the added hassles will probably make them not worth the effort.

You owe it to your donors, your accounting staff and your ministry to be the best steward of the resources available to your church. Choose an affordable online giving platform designed for small and growing churches, like SimplifyGive. Using our quick, no-fee sign up process and simple plug-and-play website integration, we can have your church accepting donations in a matter of minutes!

July 25, 2022August 25, 2022

How to Encourage Giving in Times of Economic Uncertainty

Church giving in times of economic uncertainty

IS THE ECONOMY AFFECTING YOUR CHURCH?

Turn on the news and you’ll hear plenty about how the price of everything going up – housing, cars, food, gas. Or simply head to nearest gas station or grocery store and look at the prices on the shelves. Economic inflation used be something we learned about in history class. Now we’re seeing it happen in real time.

Inflation is currently affecting everyone and everything, including churches. As everything continues to cost more money, paychecks are not reaching as far as they used to. So what does this mean for you and for your church? How can your church deal with the impact of inflation? Is the decline in your weekly giving numbers a reflection of an average summer giving slump or an indication of a bigger problem?

These are all valid questions to ask. They are not meant to alarm you, but to equip you to lead and shepherd your church more effectively. So today, I want to unpack a few things you can do as pastor to lead your church through a time of economic uncertainty.

SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF INFLATION ON YOUR CHURCH?

While the current economic crisis is new, economic uncertainty is not. After all, we’ve just come out from two years of unprecedented change due to living through a world-wide pandemic. Here at Simplify Church, we’ve done our best to provide you with tools and resources to navigate your church finances through the pandemic.

These are foundational principles that your church should operate by. There are practical things you can do to stay on top of your church finances and ensure that you are being a good steward of the resources entrusted to your church.

If you are noticing a dip in your weekly tithes and offerings, you may need to sit down and re-think your budget allocations for the year. We’ll have another free training coming up in the next several weeks to walk you through how to do just that.

But I think something that can get lost in our efforts to be good stewards of church finances and manage money and resources effectively is the need for pastors to talk to their congregations about what is happening in our economy and encourage giving in church.

HOW CAN YOU ENCOURAGE GIVING IN CHURCH?

Last month, I shared six things you can do to increase church giving in 2022. I also recently shared videos on our Facebook page about common objections people have for why they don’t give and how to overcome them. In this article, I want to focus on how we can specifically encourage giving in times of economic uncertainty.

Remind people that even in the midst of uncertainty, God remains in control

Yes, things can feel out of control. Yes, we might not know how things will play out. But we have a choice to walk in fear or walk by faith.

Nothing surprises God. In all of history God has been in complete control and His way is perfect. Even when we don’t see how things are going to work out, God has a perfect plan that will be completed regardless of our input. As Matthew 6:28-32 reminds us, that our heavenly Father knows what we need.

When we’re in the midst of the uncertainty, it can be difficult to see the way out. It’s equally as difficult to share with someone the fact that God has the plan. But nonetheless, it’s our role as pastors to remind people of this fact.

One way to encourage giving in economic uncertainty is to remind people that God is in control.

Remind people that God’s commands haven’t changed

One of the biggest objections to giving in the church is a lack of understanding of how and why we give. People want to know, what does the Bible say about giving in the church? Why is giving to the church important? Does tithing mean giving to the church? Why should I give to the church? How much should I be giving to my church? Does it matter how much I give? Can I just give when I happen to have excess cash with me?

While our circumstances might change, the truth of God’s word and his commands for us do not.

As pastor, you must communicate both what God has instructed us to do and why those commands are not dependent on our current circumstances. God spoke through His word thousands of years ago in a time that was different than we have now. But even then, he was in control and was working through His perfect way.

God has given us everything. And He has called us to give back to him the first fruits of our labor. Not the excess or leftovers. Or in times of plenty. If the economy was good. If you had a bumper crop. We give back because He first gave to us. Regardless of our circumstances or current situation.

It is challenging for some people to give when they are facing bills and notices for payment in the mail but the fact remains, God is good and He provides.

Remind people that God rewards faithfulness

I am not saying that because someone gives, God will reward them with health and wealth. However, it is clear that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). God hasn’t called us to give in a legalistic manner, but rather He looks at the heart and the intent of the gift.

If a person remains faithful to God and gives because they love the Lord and know that’s a step of spiritual development for them, it has been shown time and time again that God responds to that person in ways they may never have imagined.

Cultivate a heart of generosity at your church

One of the most important things you can do as pastor is talk about the how and why of giving and foster a heart of generosity in your congregation. When we don’t want to think about or talk about giving, it often comes from a place of fear.

If you approach giving out of fear or obligation, that’s the message that will be communicated. And that message is not compelling. A heart of generosity is not birthed from a place of fear, but out of trust and joy in following Christ. What is truly needed is not a five-step program to get people to give more, but a complete identity shift; a change in how we define and talk about generosity.

If you are ready to stop focusing on an uncertain future and start cultivating a culture of generosity in your church, regardless of economic circumstances, then download our free guide to Building a Culture of Radical Generosity in your church.

Learn practical steps to begin building a culture that transforms the way your congregation thinks about money.

HOW TO LEAD YOUR CHURCH IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY

Remind yourself of these same things.

While it’s tough to see the end in sight in times of uncertainty, we can remember that God continues to be faithful. These times are not new to him. We need only remember to stay the course and encourage people to lean into the Giver of Life.

Pastor, how will you use this economic uncertainty to make much of Jesus?

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022

Six Keys to Increase Church Giving in 2022

The Challenge of Pastoral Ministry in 2022

Life is busy. The list of things that need to get done continues to grow. Sometimes it seems like there are never enough hours in a day. And let’s be honest, you’d love to bring on another staff person, but it seems the finances just aren’t there to support it. You feel stuck.

Sound familiar? This is a common sentiment among pastors I’ve talked with.

But what if, instead of spinning your wheels and trying to do it all yourself, you took a step back and focused on a few simple, specific actions to boost giving at your church?

Sometimes when we’re in the middle of a difficult season and we feel overwhelmed by the weight of it all, we don’t have the brain capacity to step back and get perspective and think about the problem differently.

But what if was possible to bring on another staff person, or at least a part-time support person to help carry the load? What if this next season could be about helping you AND your church experience life, and health, and growth?

Are There Ways to Increase Giving At Your Church?

Here’s the thing. I know that God wants to do great things in and through the life of your church. I also know that that means you need to lead your church well – from a place of rest, not a place of burnout. So, first take a minute to stop and breathe.

And then let’s talk about how to increase giving at your church. Because the solution to your exhaustion might just be sharing the need with your congregation.

Here are six simple actions you can take to foster generosity and increase donations in your church this year:

1. Begin with prayer

I know this feels a little cliche, but sometimes we get so caught up in our to-do lists and routines that we forget to really connect with God through prayer.

This is the foundation for our ability to lead from a healthy place and grow a healthy church, so spend a moment examining your own prayer life. What does it look like? Is it full of life or stuck in a rut? What kind of example are you setting for your congregation? And are you calling your people to prayer?

When we pray, God listens. Every other thing we do won’t really matter, if we aren’t prioritizing this spiritual practice.

2. Establish A Vision-Centered Budget

According to the CAF-USA-2019 Giving Report, 47% of givers would donate more if they knew how their money would be spent.

I say this a lot, but a budget really does build trust in giving.

Your church members want to know that the money they are faithfully giving is going to make a difference. This means first of all having a budget in place. But it also means that the generosity of your church is impacted by how much your budget is mission-focused and vision-centered.

If your budget simply exists to keep the lights of the building on, that’s not very compelling. But if part of your budget is going to make an impact in the lives of others, that’s something that people can get excited about being a part of.

3. Share the vision

While the very act of having a budget builds trust in giving, and having a vision-centered budget furthers that trust, to truly build excitement, you need to share the vision.

People give to a cause they believe in and feel a part of. God wants cheerful givers, and so do you. When you share the vision on a regular basis, you help people own that vision and get excited about being a part of it.

As Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” If you’re struggling to share the vision of your church or you realize you’re lacking a vision, we have a free resource to help you get clear on what the specific mission and vision of your church is. You can download your free guide here.

4. Celebrate Stories

We are a story-based culture. Stories connect with people and provide clarity. Stories stay with us and stick in our brains.

What does this mean for you and for your church?

Continually share stories that illustrate what God is doing in and through the generosity of your church. If you have the capability, record video testimonials that showcase God at work! Or invite people on the stage to share how the resources of th church are being used to impact lives.

5. CALL PEOPLE TO ACTION

This is another important tip pastors need to take to heart.

No, you don’t need to sound salesy. But you do need to call people to action. Bodies at rest, tend to stay at rest. People tend to continue to do what they’ve always done – unless an outside force calls them to something more.

When we are not bold in calling people to give, we communicate a lack of belief in the importance of giving. You help people grow in their faith and in experiencing the blessings of God in their lives when you call people to take action.

6. Make Giving Simple and easy to do

This is also a tip based on human nature. If something is difficult to do, or requires too much time, fewer people will do it. For example, consider creating a two-question survey. You will get more responses than if you asked people to fill out a 20-question survey.

The same is true for giving at your church. If it is too difficult or takes too much effort, people won’t do it.

Fewer and fewer people carry cash or checks these days. I’m not advocating that you stop passing the plate on Sunday mornings, but it is vital that you think about how to make giving simple and easy to do. Online giving, text-to-give and recurring donations are all ways to make giving simple and painless for your people.

How Do I Set Up Online Giving For My Church?

If you need help making giving simple and accessible, Simplify Give offers the convenience of online giving, with free text-to-give, no monthly usage fees and simple, affordable rates.

What Will The Rest of 2022 Look Like In Your Church?

Only God knows what is in store for your church in the coming months.

But my prayer is that by taking a few simple steps, you are able to lead your church to experience greater generosity, financial health and future growth…AND at the same time reduce the amount of stress in your life.

At Simplify Church, we provide financial guidance and support to help pastors and churches thrive. We’ve helped hundreds of small and growing churches optimize their church finances, and we’d love to do the same for you.

February 4, 2022February 9, 2022

The Church Giving Detail You Should Be Tracking

If you want to stir the pot in a forum full of pastors just start talking about whether or not a pastor should know the giving details of their church. You’ll watch people take sides faster than a debate on masks in church… (too soon?)

Regardless of what you’ve been told, it really is in the pastor’s best interest to know the details about their church giving income.

But, what do I mean by details?

The pastor needs to know all the sources of income for the local church he is leading. In addition, he needs to know the individuals, entities or church giving units that comprise the deposits in detail. This not only helps people grow spiritually, it also is extremely practical. For now, we’ll deal with the practicality.

NUMBER OF CHURCH GIVING UNITS

Let me share a story with you.

We served a church that had an annual budget of just over $600,000. They had a zero-based budget and set their expenditures up to best utilize the resources available to them. Nothing was excessive or out of the norm, and they also practiced good stewardship by reserving some funds for capital improvement and emergency expenses.

They were doing everything correctly and setting their church up for long term health and success, right?

At first glance that appeared to be true. However, in this case, the church was blessed with a donor who gave very graciously to the church – to the tune of $50,000 per quarter. If you do the math, one-third of the church’s budget was being supported by a single donor.

While some pastors would absolutely love for that to happen at their church, relying on that income for a significant portion of the budget is dangerous.

You may be able to guess where this story is headed.

Unfortunately, that donor stopped giving to the church. No, it wasn’t anything the church did. But two major factors contributed to the change. First, the gentleman was actually the son of an attender. When his mother died, the son’s relationship with the church changed, and was not as strong without his mother there. Second, the reason he was able to make such a large contribution, was because he was heavily invested in the oil industry. As the industry changed, so did his income.

Needless to say, that church lost one third of their budget overnight.

The pastor was aware of the situation and knew how much that donor impacted the church finances, but was still left in a difficult spot. Most of us, in the pastor’s position, probably would have utilized those funds to the extent we could and been grateful while it lasted. However, the issue was not that the funds were being utilized. The issue was that the pastor and the church had no contingency plans in place, in case that source of funding dried up.

Now why do I tell this story?

WHY CHURCH GIVING UNITS MATTER

I share this story with you because it speaks directly to WHY it’s important to be aware of income sources for your church. By knowing the number of giving units (and who makes up those giving units) for your local church, you become better prepared and equipped to lead and guide your church fiscally.

We have worked with countless churches across the country and, in most cases, churches rely completely on the generosity of their donors.

While that is normal, and ultimately how God structured His church, it does create some potential financial challenges. These financial challenges need to be understood by pastors.

You already know that there are plenty of barriers to growing a healthy church. At Simplify Church, we just believe church finances shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why we exist to make managing church finances SIMPLE.

We offer a free course to teach pastors HOW to read and analyze financial reports and we have a free guide that teaches pastors WHICH metrics they should be watching.

CHURCH GIVING UNITS & THE KEY TO CHURCH PLANTING SUCCESS

We work with lots of church plants, and knowing the number of church giving units also matters for church planters. It just looks a little different from an established church in the beginning. I don’t have to tell you that getting a church started and FUNDED can be extremely difficult. One key to success we’ve found for church planters is to have a diversity of funding.

Diversity of funding is simply having a range of sources that support the financial needs of the church. Far too many churches rely solely on their denomination, or on a single sending church. Some have one or two that give, and the church relies solely on those benefactors as they seek to become sustainable.

Unfortunately, in today’s climate, it is very difficult to start and grow a church with limited resources.Many church plants fail. And, for that matter, many small, established churches are closing their doors.

But the common denominator among the church plants and small churches that we see succeeding and growing? They all have a diversity of funding sources.

For example, a church plant could have one sending church supporting them at $2,000/month. Or they could have 10 churches supporting them at $200 each. Yes, it’s the same amount of monthly income. But the impact is not the same.

By having that amount spread out over 10 churches, you have 10 partners who are supporting you and invested in the work you are doing. Losing one supporting church will hurt, but not nearly as much as losing your sole funding source. Moreover, what are the chances that you could go back to the one church supporting you at $2,000/month and ask for another $1000? More than likely, that church is already maxed out on what they can give to you.

But what if you went to those 10 churches giving $200 each and asked for $100 more? Chances are that’s a much easier conversation and decision for those churches to make. If each church said yes, then you’ve increased your monthly income by $1,000.

Now I realize this is a very specific example, but I just want to fully illustrate this concept for you:

When you are able to diversify your efforts, you multiply the results.

CHURCH GIVING UNITS & PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Have you ever gone to a bank to request financing for your church?

One of the first things the bank is going to ask for is a list of your top 10-25 donors. They’ll ask for the donation amounts AND any relationships of those donors.

Why do they do that?

Banks are all about mitigating risk. If they’re going to loan money to a church, they want to know that there will be little risk in getting that money repaid. They are very well aware of the risk of being pigeonholed by a closely knit donor base.

You should be aware as well.

While you may not be seeking a loan, you should be aware of the risks associated with your church finances.

Why? Because you CANNOT make accurate financial decisions for the direction of your church without this information.

As pastor, you need to know the giving details of your church. Yes, all the way down to the donor. It’s not about treating anyone differently, it’s about understanding how your church stands financially and being able to make the best decisions, based on accurate information.

CHURCH GIVING UNITS IN YOUR CHURCH

So let me ask you, what does giving look like in your church? Is your budget supported by a few individuals? Or do you have diversity of funding?

And perhaps more importantly, do you have a system to help you find the data you need to make informed decisions?

If you’re struggling to get this kind of information from your church, then maybe it’s time to take a look at Simplify Church Bookkeeping. Our bookkeeping system is designed specifically FOR CHURCHES, to help you lead and make informed decisions for the health and long-term viability of your church. If you want to learn more, visit SimplifyChurch.com/getstarted to schedule a free discovery call.

You owe it to your church to be the best steward of the resources you’ve been entrusted with.

And we’re here to help you do just that!

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021

Three Simple Steps to Survive the 2021 Church Giving Slump

A 2021 Church Giving Slump??

I’m calling it. I predict that churches in the summer of 2021 will see a giving slump that surpasses many previous year’s slumps.

Traditionally, churches see a dip in giving during the summer months. We have discussed summer giving slumps before, but this summer has the makings to be much different.

Why?

Well, we’re looking at a summer where many people, for the first time in over a year, feel comfortable traveling outside their local community.

With a global pandemic and the resulting lockdowns and travel restrictions put in place, vacations and traveling were out of the question for many people. In fact, air travel in 2020 was down 60% compared with 2019 numbers.

With precautions starting to relax in the last weeks and months, domestic travel, at least, has become more feasible and desirable. More people feel comfortable traveling and seeing extended family members. Many are now seeing opportunities to make up for lost time and take those vacations they had previously been unable to schedule.

In other words, now that people can travel again, you can bet they are going to do just that.

So what does that mean for churches?

More than likely, we’re going to see giving decrease as people use some of that discretionary income or their vacation savings to now take that vacation they had been putting off. More people have dealt with anxiety, stress and burnout in the last year and they are looking for a chance to get away and just relax and unwind.

The good news is that a potential giving slump doesn’t have to blindside your church or leave you struggling to pay the bills.

As a pastor, here are three simple steps you can take to prepare your ministry to survive the upcoming slump.

1. Don’t hide from the church giving slump; talk about the importance of tithing and giving to your local church

If you’re struggling to figure out how to talk about it, you can check out this article and this one. Many churches that have giving issues or struggle with revenue, sometimes have a problem because they don’t make generosity part of their DNA. Don’t make talking about money taboo in your church.

Talk about it, all the time. And when you think you’ve said it enough, talk more.

Giving is a spiritual discipline much like prayer, bible study, discipleship and worship. People that take issue with pastors talking about giving, more than likely haven’t developed this spiritual discipline or fail to understand why giving matters.

Heading into this summer, be bold to talk about giving. Proclaim with boldness the value of being faithful to those things that God has called us to and make people understand that the next step in their relationship with Jesus is following the things He has commanded.

Preach boldly and unapologetically about giving. You’re called to shepherd people; this is part of their spiritual growth.

If you are looking for additional resources for how to talk about giving or struggling to figure out how to make generosity a part of your church’s DNA, we’ve created a free guide to walk you through the process. You can access it here!

2. Manage the church giving slump by looking at expenses and managing cash flow

Practically speaking, one thing you can do to combat the giving slump is to better manage your cash flow.

There is a common business adage that says if you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know your business.

The same is true for your church. If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know the health of your church.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But I’m the pastor. I just shepherd people and let someone else manage the money. Church finances are not my responsibility.”

You’re partially right. Should you be responsible for paying the bills and tracking income for the church? Probably not.

BUT…

If you are the leader of the church, you absolutely should understand where your church stands financially. Finances are a very real part of the health of your church. And the truth is your church could be headed for very real financial trouble if you don’t take steps to correct the problem. And how do you know if your church has financial issues? You have to know your numbers. Additionally, if you don’t know the financial health of your church, it’s much more difficult to make wise financial decisions and lead and grow the church.

At a minimum, you need to know what your average monthly giving amount is. Along with that, there are several other metrics you as pastor need to know. We discuss them in this post here. By knowing those numbers, you can better lead the church and know the financial health of your organization.

When you know your numbers, you’ll be able to identify trends and have an idea of areas where spending is required, and perhaps things that can be turned off or delayed until cash is in a better situation.

A practical step here is to look at your monthly expenses. Are there any discretionary expenses or subscriptions that maybe can be turned off or cancelled all together to save some money? This will help with cash flow during an income slump.

Still feeling stuck with exactly what you need know about church finances as the pastor? Download our free guide where we walk you through the five financial metrics every pastor needs to know. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a numbers person to understand. We’re all about S-I-M-P-L-E. We walk you through exactly which metrics you as pastor need to be aware of, why these numbers matter and how you can get easily find and review these numbers so that you can more effectively lead and grow your church. If the thought of finances and budgeting makes you cringe a little inside, this FREE guide will give you greater clarity and confidence in your ability to steward the financial resources of your church.

3. Minimize the church giving slump by utilizing online giving

Okay, this is probably obvious, but if your church does not offer an online giving option, you are preventing some people from being able to give to your church. Online giving is an opportunity for your congregation to participate in the act of worship through giving.

This may sound a little harsh, but a resounding percentage of people (especially the younger generation) prefer to make electronic donations. Yes, some people still carry cash or checks with them, but more and more people do not. Let’s be honest, some don’t even own a checkbook!

There was a time when an argument could be made against giving electronically for the reasons of potentially encouraging debt, or the other arguments that could be made. However, our economies have shifted, and more money is transferring electronically now than ever.

If you are not providing an electronic giving option, besides the fact that you are preventing some people from being able to give, you’re missing out the full income potential of your church. It’s true. You could be losing out on money every month. Numerous studies have shown that adding a digital giving option can increase donations between 20-35%!

We recommend SimplifyGive, our online giving solution created with small and growing churches in mind. SimplifyGive is focused on keeping costs down, so that more money from each gift comes to the church for ministry. At the same time, it offers you easy-to-access valuable church giving metrics, so that you can better lead and grow your church.

SURVIVING THE 2021 CHURCH GIVING SLUMP…MADE SIMPLE

This summer of 2021 is an exciting time for many people in the United States. After over a year of staying home, there is a strong desire to travel and to engage in activities that were postponed or unavailable for a while. But the flip side of this excitement is that engagement with and giving to church might not be at the forefront of people’s minds. Churches can and should prepare for a potential decline in giving.

But if you’re prepared for and aware of this potential, your church will be able to endure the season and come out on the other end equipped to finish the ministry year strong.

If you’d like to know more about how you can better manage your church finances or have a team of church finance experts available to you to help navigate the ups and downs of church finances (at a price that’s affordable for small and growing churches), schedule a discovery call with Simplify Church. We’d be happy to show you how we serve local churches across the country, enabling them to better focus on ministry and reach more people for Christ.

March 18, 2020December 22, 2020

How to Help Your Church Go Digital

With the health crisis brought about by COVID-19, pastors across the United States are facing some significant questions right now. Questions like:

How do navigate our church through this season of crisis?
How should we respond?
How can we keep people connected?
How do we focus on the mission and keep momentum going?

And perhaps the biggest question for many pastors:

How do I take my church online?

Many large churches already have robust online platforms in place. But if you’re the pastor of a small or growing church, your church may not have a strong digital presence.

The good news: You don’t have to know technology well to have an online platform.

What you do need is a well-thought out action plan. Here are a few steps you can take to help your church community go digital:

TAKE YOUR CHURCH SERVICE ONLINE

Begin with your weekly large group gathering. Think through the important elements of that gathering. How you can provide those same elements digitally? Are there creative ways to accomplish the same objectives?

Here are six service components to consider:

Worship

Will you have a worship leader lead worship solo or can you bring a small worship team together? Will this be pre-recorded, or recorded live?

Prayer

Will you include a time of prayer and reflection as part of your online service? Could you offer a weekly prayer guide for members?

Sermon

Similar to your worship, will you pre-record a sermon or will you preach a sermon and stream it live? Could you offer digital sermon notes for people to download? Are there other resources you could provide to help them digest the sermon?

Giving

What percentage of your congregation currently gives online vs. in the plate on Sunday morning? What steps could you take to help more people to give online?

Make sure your congregation knows how to set up online giving or text-to-give. If possible, have an easy-to-click link to your giving page close to wherever you are encouraging people to to to watch your service online.

If you haven’t already done so, offer a guide or tutorial that explains how to give online and encourages people to set up reoccurring donations.

It is also crucial during this time that you explain to your members the how and why of giving. As more people become financially strapped, having an understanding of WHY we give and HOW those funds will be used becomes even more important.

For more ideas on how to do this, download our free guide to Building a Culture of Generosity at Your Church.

Families

Let’s be honest, most churches usually offer separate activities for children during the main services. For many families, worshiping together at home can be a new (and somewhat distracting) experience. Think through how your service can become more family-friendly or how you can provide additional resources to engage families.

Guests

You may not physically be welcoming guests to a building, but that doesn’t mean you can’t connect with guests. Consider having a digital connection card for people to complete that watch your service online.

This moment in time is unlike any of us have experienced in our lifetime. Now, more than ever, anxiety is high, and people are searching for something that will bring them peace.

Encourage your members to invite their friends and family to watch your online service. And if someone does tune in for the first time, encourage them to complete the digital connect card. Then follow up with a text message or email thanking them for attending. Consider sending a letter or small welcome gift in the mail as well.

For more specific suggestions on the nuts and bolts of setting up a digital church service, check out this video.

KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED

Connection

As Hebrews 10:25 reminds us, “Do not neglect meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

So how do we keep connection? How do we “meet together” digitally?

Consider additional ways you can foster community and discussion online via your church website or perhaps a church Facebook group.

If your small groups are not currently meeting in person, encourage those smaller groups to stay connected via email, Facebook or apps like GroupMe or WhatsApp.

Another benefit of having digital connect cards is that they can offer an opportunity for members to submit prayer requests and needs. Perhaps you can publish an anonymous list of requests and needs. Encourage your members to be praying over these requests and give members the opportunity to help meet one another’s needs.

Communication

Now more than ever, it’s important that your congregation knows how they will get information from you. Will you post updates to your church website? Will you communicate via email? Will you post via Facebook or Instagram? Whichever methods you choose to use, be consistent and communicate updates regularly.

BE A VOICE OF CALM IN A STORM

Almost every person that I’ve spoken with in the last several days has expressed feelings of heightened anxiety and uncertainty. As church leaders, we can either add to the noise and chaos or we can speak truth and joy into the void.

Be aware of how you interact with those you speak to. Do your words bring clarity or confusion? Do they add to people’s anxiety levels or do your words convey peace and hope?

In addition to official church communication, use your personal social feed (if you have one) to remind people of the source of our hope, peace, courage and joy. As leaders, people are watching and taking cues from how we respond to this situation.

This is an opportunity for the Church to be the Church in a moment of crisis. As a leader of your local church, you can help set the tone for this and role model the way.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a moment in history where churches have the opportunity to lean into the uncertainty and develop creative solutions to meet both the current and future needs of those in our congregations and our communities.

Regardless of the size of your church, this is an opportunity for your church to shine a light and spread life in the cloud of uncertainty and darkness. Now, more than ever, people are searching for comfort, for peace, for hope, for rest. All of these things are found in Jesus!

Will you step into this opportunity?

CONCLUSION

As we navigate the days, weeks and months ahead, it is our intent to provide you with as much relevant resources, tips and encouragement as we can.

In our next post, we’ll share more about the impact of going digital on the operational side of your church and what you need to consider from an administrative and financial perspective.

In the meantime, please reach out to us with any questions. We are here to be a resource to your church, and to help you navigate this unprecedented time in our history. We are praying for you. And we are here to help in whatever way we can.

November 26, 2019December 22, 2020

What #GivingTuesday Can Teach Us About Generosity

Over the last seven years, Giving Tuesday has exploded to become a global giving movement.

If you didn’t know, Giving Tuesday is a day that celebrates the collective power of generosity.

Launched in 2012 as a response to the consumerism of Black Friday, Giving Tuesday occurs annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States.

In 2018 alone, people from more than 150 countries participated and over 400+ million dollars was raised online!

So what can the Giving Tuesday movement teach us about generosity?

Generosity is alive and well

Much has been made of the decline of churches in America and church giving statistics can paint a dreary picture. But generosity is not dead.

In the last 12 months, more than six in ten (62%) Americans gave money, either by donating to a charity, by giving to a church/religious organization, or by sponsoring someone. This is also significantly higher than the level in 2017 (55%).

Causes are key

The Charities Aid Foundation found that of those that gave, caring about the cause was the most important reason for giving.

This is even more important when it comes to encouraging millennials to give. According to the Millennial Impact Report, millennials engage with causes, far more than institutions.

This is why, as I’ve mentioned before, sharing where funds are going and stories of impact is vitally important to encourage generosity at your church.

Generosity requires consistent communication

Over the last seven years, the Giving Tuesday movement has exploded. But it has done so through intentional and concerted effort and communication.

The Giving Tuesday website provides a complete free resource toolkit, including six-month and six-week communication timelines for nonprofits looking to participate in Giving Tuesday. Many of these communication best practices can and should be utilized by churches to talk about generosity.

Encourage recurring giving

According to the State of Modern Philanthropy (2019), one-time donors who become recurring donors on average started their recurring giving plan roughly 214 days (7 months) after their first donation. What does this mean?

While it’s wonderful when someone chooses to give for the first time, we can help walk people towards becoming a recurring donor. The study goes on to recommend that nonprofits encourage one-time donors to become recurring immediately or soon after the first donation.

Celebrate generosity

Giving Tuesday is about celebrating giving – through donations, advocacy, volunteering and acts of kindness. These forms of giving are the lifestyle we have been called to as followers of Christ. Unfortunately, churches often hesitate to call people to take action and give.

Rather than avoid the conversation, we should regularly and proactively encourage and call our church communities to give and live generously. We should make it a part of our regular conversation. In fact, we should be the ones leading the generosity charge!

Consider how you can use the Giving Tuesday movement to highlight the importance of generosity.

Talk about it. Encourage those in your church to participate!

It is a valuable opportunity where culture and Christ can intersect. Use it to encourage generosity, engage culture and start a conversation about how and why we give.