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Faith Leaders Resources 8min read

4 Ways to Strengthen Financial Stewardship and Increase Giving in 2025

a phone with dollar signs and a bar chart signifying the increase in giving through financial stewardship

The giving outlook for 2025 is looking bright, with the potential for another generous year on the horizon. Last year’s giving trends highlighted the importance of financial stewardship, showing just how committed people of faith are to supporting their places of worship — and this momentum is expected to continue in the new year. 

This presents pastors and faith leaders with an opportunity to cultivate a lasting culture of generosity. 

In this blog, we’ll explore four key actions you can take to strengthen financial stewardship in your congregation and inspire generosity in the year ahead. 

The abundant generosity of people of faith 

At the start of 2024, 95% of people of faith intended to give the same or more to their places of worship than in 2023, and they largely followed through on that commitment. Looking ahead, giving is projected to increase by 2-3% in 2025, according to Givelify’s Philanthropic Data & Insights team. 

This steady commitment to giving highlights the important role faith leaders play in nurturing generosity through financial stewardship. In fact, 80% of pastors and faith leaders actively teach their congregants about giving — whether through financial contributions, acts of service, or supporting those in need — according to our latest research

Financial stewardship as a spiritual practice 

Encouraging generosity isn’t just about increasing donations — it’s about helping congregants see financial stewardship as a key part of their spiritual journey. According to the 2024 Giving in Faith report, 82% of faith-based givers already believe that giving is a core tenet of their faith. 

When faith leaders provide guidance and practical tools for stewardship, generosity extends beyond momentary acts of giving. It becomes a sustainable practice that strengthens individuals, uplifts communities, and advances your mission. 

Here are four impactful ways to foster financial stewardship within your congregation and increase place of worship and church giving in 2025:

1. Teach financial stewardship 

Financial stewardship is a vital part of faith, and when connected to spiritual principles, it can deeply resonate with your congregation. 

Teaching this concept isn’t just about encouraging giving — it’s about helping people see their finances as an extension of their faith. 

Here’s how you can make financial stewardship a regular part of your teaching: 

Incorporate stewardship into sermons 

Think of how often you talk to your congregation about trusting in their faith — why not extend that to how they handle their finances? By regularly weaving financial stewardship into your messages, you can help your congregation see that handling money isn’t just a practical task but a spiritual discipline. 

Emphasize that stewardship goes beyond giving — it’s about wisely managing all the resources entrusted to them. Teaching on topics like tithing, saving, and budgeting through a faith-based lens can help your congregation connect their financial decisions to their spiritual journey in a meaningful way. 

Leverage key moments 

Certain times of the year naturally encourage reflection and renewal, and that’s especially true at the start of a new year. As people set personal goals and resolutions, it’s also an opportunity to reassess financial habits and embrace generosity as part of their faith journey. 

Encourage your congregation to view stewardship as more than just practice but a mindset. By tying financial wellbeing to spiritual growth during these key moments, you can help them build habits that not only strengthen their finances but also deepen their connection to their faith. 

Provide actionable tools 

Knowledge alone isn’t enough to create change — people need the right tools to put it into action. Providing simple, practical resources can help your congregation confidently manage their finances in alignment with their faith. 

Consider offering budgeting templates, financial planning workshops, or small group discussions that explore the connection between financial health and spiritual wellbeing. By equipping your congregation with these tools, you empower them to become better stewards of their resources, strengthening both their financial stability and their faith in the process. 

2. Model financial stewardship 

As a pastor or faith leader, your actions speak louder than words. Your congregation looks to you for guidance — not just in spiritual matters but in how to live out faith in everyday life, including financial stewardship. When they see you prioritizing generosity, it encourages them to do the same. 

Share your own giving journey 

Being open about your personal experiences with giving can make stewardship feel more relatable. Have you ever struggled with generosity? Has giving strengthened your faith? 

Sharing your story — challenges, lessons, and blessings — helps demystify what it means to be a faithful steward. Your transparency can inspire others to reflect on their own giving journey. 

Show your commitment to generosity 

It’s one thing to talk about giving — it’s another to live it out. Be intentional about modeling generosity, whether through financial contributions, volunteering, or supporting those in need. When your congregation sees you leading the way, they’ll be more encouraged to follow. 

Foster a culture of generosity 

When stewardship is a core value in your life, it naturally influences those around you. Generosity isn’t just about meeting a budget — it’s about transforming lives. By fostering a culture where giving is celebrated, you help create a ripple effect of generosity that will strengthen your faith community for years to come. 

3. Make financial stewardship relatable 

Talking about financial stewardship can sometimes feel abstract, but at its core, it’s about equipping people with practical skills that can transform their lives. When you help our congregation see the connection between faith and finances in a real and tangible way, it becomes something they can truly embrace. 

Bring in trusted voices 

Sometimes, it helps to hear from someone outside the pulpit. Inviting financial experts who understand both personal finance and faith can provide fresh insight. 

Whether it’s budgeting, tackling debt, or planning for the future, choose speakers who can relate to your congregation’s everyday struggles and break things down in a way that makes sense. When your congregation hears real, practical steps from someone who’s been in their shoes, they’ll be more likely to take action. 

Create hands-on learning opportunities 

Financial stewardship isn’t just a one-time sermon topic. It’s a skill that grows over time. Consider hosting workshops, small groups, or Q&A sessions where people can ask their questions and get practical advice.

It can be a budgeting class, a session on eliminating debt, or a conversation about financial planning for families. These gatherings can help break down financial stewardship into actionable steps. 

Make it relevant for every stage of life 

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always work when it comes to finances. Teens and young adults might need help understanding budgeting and saving, while parents may be looking for guidance on teaching their kids about money. And older members might be thinking about retirement and long-term giving. 

By offering resources and discussions tailored to different life stages, you make financial stewardship something that everyone in your congregation can connect with. 

4. Make it easy to follow through

People want to give, but life gets busy. Between work, family, and everyday responsibilities, it’s easy for even the most generous intentions to get lost in the shuffle. That’s why making giving simple, accessible, and meaningful can make all the difference. 

Use technology to remove barriers 

Most people don’t carry around cash or checks anymore. That’s why offering digital giving options is so important. Online and mobile giving platforms like Givelify make it easy for your congregation to give anytime, anywhere, and in any amount. And when generosity fits into people’s daily lives, they’re more likely to give consistently. 

Encourage recurring giving 

Life can get hectic, and people don’t always remember to give. But when they set up recurring donations, giving becomes a natural part of their routine. It’s an easy way for your congregation to stay engaged in generosity without having to think about it every week, and it provides your place of worship with more reliable support for ministry efforts. 

Celebrate giving milestones 

People love to know their contributions are making a difference. Take time to acknowledge giving milestones — whether it’s thanking first-time givers, celebrating a big outreach project made possible by donations, or simply expressing gratitude in a personal way. 

Recognizing generosity helps reinforce a culture of generosity. When people feel appreciated, they’re inspired to keep giving, not just out of obligation, but out of joy. 

Grow giving through financial stewardship in 2025 

As we look ahead to 2025, you have an opportunity to make generosity a natural part of your congregations’ lives. When you teach stewardship, model generosity, offer practical financial resources, and make giving easier, you’re setting your community up to embrace giving with joy and confidence. 

These efforts don’t just support the financial health of your church or place of worship, they help create an enduring culture of generosity that strengthens your congregations’ spiritual lives. 

As pastors and faith leaders, you’re called to lead by example. It’s not just in your words, but in your actions, that you inspire others to live out generosity. 

By putting these steps into practice, you can help foster lasting change in the hearts of your congregation, guiding them to live out their faith in every aspect of their lives. 

About the Author

Lindsey is the Customer Marketing Content Lead at Givelify. She is passionate about creating educational content and joyful experiences that help our Givelify community find success with our mobile giving platform. Through her content, she aims to uplift and support faith-based and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to do more good in the world.

Lindsey Hood