Ministry requires money. And it is up to God’s people to fund God’s work; the government isn’t going to do it! Furthermore, someone has to disciple and inspire God’s people to fund God’s work.
In 2017, I became an Executive Pastor. Stabilizing finances quickly became priority number one. For nearly eleven years in a row, the church had ended the fiscal year with a deficit. I needed to figure out a solution fast! Due to some changes, and the Lord’s gracious provision, the church has closed the books with a surplus every year since (with one exception during COVID in 2020).
How did we do it? I wish I could tell you that the solution is simple and fast. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet. There is, however, a process I call “The Seven E’s of Church Fundraising.”
Encourage Those with the Gift of Giving
Should a pastor know how much people give to the church? This question is hotly debated. Here is my practice: I know who the top givers are, but not necessarily the amount. For me, knowing this information is critical for the church’s financial discipleship and utilizing people’s spiritual gifting. Pastors regularly encourage people in their church who have the gift of teaching. Or the gift of serving. Or those gifted musically. Why not thank and encourage those with the gift of giving, too?A couple times every year, I schedule meetings with our top givers. The purpose is three-fold: First, I update them on the church’s financial standing. People who love giving to your church want to know ministry needs and vision. Second, I ask a ton of questions. These meetings are fantastic listening sessions. Third, I thank them for their financial partnership with the church and, if necessary, ask for extra funding.
I have discovered that generous people are eager to learn about the church’s financial situation. They are also eager to help. Once, I scheduled a meeting like this intending to ask for a significant gift. We sat down, I gave my spiel, and then asked “Would you pray about giving __ dollars to help meet these needs?” This couple responded with “We talked about this before coming over and decided to give ___.” (The amount was eight times what I requested from them!) They were so excited to meet with me, they had already made arraingements for a five-figure gift to the church.
Educate the Congregation on Stewardship
People give to your church for two primary reasons: Because the Bible instructs them to give or because they are inspired to give. Or both. I’ll mention inspiration below, but first let’s talk about education.Jesus talked about money quite frequently. As it turns out, one’s level of generosity is directly tied to one’s heart (Matthew 6:21). Forming habits and disciplines around giving is crucial for a follower of Jesus. Therefore, it is critical to ensure a congregation is educated on biblical stewardship. You can do this through an annual sermon series on generosity, or you can drip teaching during offering moments and other communication means.
By the way, don’t just educate; pull on people’s heartstrings by sharing stories, needs, and opportunities throughout the year. Use every form of communication you have to encourage giving; such as bulletins, newsletters, churchwide emails, quarterly giving statements, and social media.
End of Year Giving Push
A year-end appeal is essential for any non-profit. People tend to be more generous at the end of the year, and wealthier individuals are more prone to give extra due to Christmas bonuses and tax benefits. Our church’s fiscal year ends in the summer, and we leverage this with an “end of year” appeal and an “end of fiscal year” giving push.Be as creative as you like and use every means of communication available. We usually kick off the holiday giving season with an email to all attenders, followed by giving stories in December, all interspersed with video testimonies on social media and specific challenges throughout the winter. Remember, repetition is key. If you shared a great story or pressing need on Giving Tuesday, say it again in December.
Equip New Givers
Giving for the first time is a huge step in the discipleship process. Celebrate this moment! It is no small feat to see someone new come to your church, get involved in community, and then start giving. Giving is one of the final steps a newcomer will take.As soon as a new giver hits your radar, no matter the amount, send them a letter. If they give a second or third time, send them a book. If they sign up for automated giving, thank them with a hand-written note.
In addition, every time you thank and celebrate a new step of giving, provide a next step. Scripture teaches us to grow in generosity by first giving regularly (2 Corinthians 9:7), then proportionately (1 Corinthians 16:2), and finally sacrificially (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). Nobody moves straight into sacrificial giving. Our generosity grows when we give for the first time, followed by more obedient steps of faith.
Emphasize Giving During Next Step Seasons
Church calendars follow a predictable cadence. In August, fall ministry kicks off. During the holidays, groups and classes quiet down only to pick back up again in January. Easter is another season of momentum when churches often launch new classes or initiatives. Each of these transitions is a next step season: a time when you encourage people to commit to something.Whenever you approach a next step season, add giving as an option. Recruiting people to sign up for a short term missions trip? Invite those who cannot attend to give. Asking people to join a group? Mention other next steps they can take, such as giving. Encouraging folks to volunteer or become a member? A related next step is giving. Whenever you can challenge people to take steps in generosity and stewardship, do it.
Engage People More Broadly in their Faith
The most effective way to raise funding for the church is to engage your congregation more broadly in their faith. We tend to invest more in the organizations in which we are actively involved. If someone in your church gets involved in a group, starts volunteering, and starts attending a class, I can almost guarantee they are giving.This should not surprise us. Jesus said that our treasure and our heart stay close by one another (Matthew 6:21). When people are benefiting from the ministries of your church, they will be much more inclined to give. This strategy is a slow turnaround, but it is the whole reason the church exists! Do the basic things well, and you will not have to worry about raising money.
Easy Giving Platform
Have you ever tried to order something online, but backed out because the prompts were too complicated? This has happened to me several times. I’ll fill my online cart, click “checkout,” and then learn I need to setup an account, save a credit card, answer a security question… Ugh! I’m just trying to pay! It should be easy.It should be easy to give to your church. Make sure your online giving system is intuitive and fast. Several companies can help. These third party vendors can prompt givers to round up their gift, add 2% to cover banking fees, or set up the gift as a recurring monthly donation. These features can be pricey, but extra funding will make up the difference.
Conclusion
I used to fret over making budget. Seriously; I developed ulcers and had trouble sleeping during some seasons. Making sure the church could pay the bills and care for our staff was my major source of ministry stress. Now, I worry very little about church fundraising.Projected to end with a deficit? No worries, I know who to call.
The holiday season is coming? We got this, there is a process.
Need to explain how to give online? Easy, we have the best giving software available.
If you care about financial discipleship, and if you are searching for more peace and stability with church budgetting, I challenge you to work the seven “E’s” of church fundraising.