How To Create an Easy Donation Experience For Your Church

In today’s modern and fast-paced world, people are always looking for more simple ways of doing things. We want ease of use, comfort, and wholeness. Knowing this, churches can begin to devise a plan to create an easy giving platform for their congregants.

The number one way to increase giving in your church is to set up an online and mobile giving platform. Did you know, places of worship saw an average of 10% more giving with Givelify’s church service than without? Moreover, an impressive 20% of donors gave more than they would in person. There can be no doubt: there really is something to online giving platforms! Continue reading for more ways to create an easy giving experience for your church.

Appeal to Younger Generations

It is no secret that the youth are increasingly plugged into the latest technology. Building a welcoming online or mobile gifting platform with an easy-to-use interface allows younger donors to not feel out of place. Givelify’s online and mobile gifting platform is easier for donors to use than text-to-give solutions. Congregants can donate at any time, from anywhere, with the free Givelify giving app.

Matt Chandler, Givelify’s Sales Operations Specialist, uncovered other means to appeal to the youth in your church in his article titled “How To Engage Millennial Donors with Technology.” He found that shared stories, particularly those with video medium, increased giving among young adults. Shared stories with virtual face-to-face interactions help to connect with younger generations on an emotional level. Also mention to your donors where the funds will be going. This helps to further the emotional connection.

Insight Giving in Your Church

There is a fine line between harping on giving too much and not talking about it enough. That said, don’t be afraid to bring it up. Be truthful about what good can be done with gifts. Tell your members where the money will be going and what it will be used for.

Matt put together a checklist for how churches can focus their attention in this area in an article titled “Have You Marked Off These Items on Your Church Giving Checklist?” In it, he identifies three ways to talk about giving in your church. Firstly, churches should attempt to raise giving participation simply by talking about it more. Next, churches should look to further their community interactions and improve outreach. Lastly, and most importantly to reach as many as possible, churches should look to modernize their church giving options.

What it boils down to is a three-step process. Talk about giving, tell members where their gifts will go, and give them an easy path to give.

Social Media and Mobile Fundraising

Social media is a simple and cost-effective way to increase viewership for fundraising efforts. It can get your message in front of masses of people in a short period of time, is easy to organize, and most of the time is free!

There are simple steps to improve social media presence and mobile gift requests. Include hashtags that relate to your cause or request. Do some research on famous people that have shown interest in causes like yours and tag them in the message. Always tag the other accounts or pages within your organization. Also always include a link to your mobile or online gifting service to let people know it is easy to give.

These types of giving requests include website, email, social media, and mobile. Campaigns like these take a unique set of strategy and planning skills, so if you are not well-versed in the digital age, we’re here to help! For help with ideas and guidance, visit our article on free social media and marketing checklist.

How Do I Ask for a Small Donation?

Again, you should be looking to connect with people on an emotional level. This includes being truthful about where the money will be going. The best way to raise the level of connection is to tell a truthful story. Also, ensure that the story is seen by the right people. You can accomplish this goal by doing research into who would be most likely to give to the specific cause.

A sense of urgency is a hotly debated topic. Some view it as overbearing while others say it is a must-have practice for small gifts. The bottom line is to be specific. People want to know exactly how they are helping to make a difference.

Don’t be afraid to ask. The worst that can happen is people say no, which is something you should be prepared for. Ensure your message lets people know that even a small gift can go a long way.

What is the Easiest Fundraiser?

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is simply asking a broad group of people for money through social media. These can be members of your church, your community, or beyond. For a better chance at success, include a virtual message and a link to an online giving platform.

Live Events

Live events, like silent auctions, cookouts, or carnivals, are an easy way to raise your fundraiser’s total viewership. Although more work is needed to host the event, they ultimately help to spread your cause through word-of-mouth marketing. This lowers the future efforts needed.

Virtual Events

Virtual events, like online concerts and give-a-thons, again take a little extra effort to get going but can be taped and used in the future. They can even be uploaded onto online and mobile giving platforms or attached to social media with a link to your giving service.

Conclusion

The best way to create an easy giving experience for your donors is to appeal to as many people as possible. Online and mobile giving apps are convenient for both donors and the church. They allow people to track their donations and see where their money is used. The bottom line is to have a plan that makes it easy for donors to give to your church and cause. Sign up for Givelify and get set up for mobile donations in under 5 minutes.