3 Year-End Church Giving Tips — and 1 Crucial Step for 2025

With just a few weeks left in the year, now is the perfect time to ensure your church’s year-end plan aligns with your goals. 

Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, and the final Sunday is December 29. These days are key opportunities to highlight the generosity of your faithful givers as they reflect on how to share the blessings they’ve received this year.  

December 31 is known as the most generous giving day of the year for organizations — for reasons including the annual deadline for tax-deductible contributions and year-end holiday giving.   

As you finalize your plans, consider these three tips for a successful year-end giving strategy — and one crucial step you can take now to set the stage for a strong start to 2025.

Tip #1: Remember two small but important words: “Thank you”

Research shows that people feel more generous when they feel appreciated. Members and supporters who receive a “thank you” from your church for their giving will be more likely to give more in the future.   

Thanking your donors meaningfully encourages them to continue giving enthusiastically. So, start your year-end giving ask by thanking your donors for all they’ve contributed throughout the year.  

Celebrating and appreciating your givers in person and digitally — through email and on social media — reminds them how important their giving is.

Tip #2: Inspire them by sharing the impact of their gifts

As you’re thanking your donors this season, now is also the time to highlight and celebrate all that has been accomplished this year because of their generosity.  

Share the tangible impact of your donors’ gifts throughout the year. Tell inspiring stories of the lives changed. Give real examples of how donor contributions were well spent. 

When people know their gifts are truly making a direct impact on a situation, program, ministry, or opportunity, they feel empowered and inspired to contribute towards making a difference.    

Share impact with your congregation often and in many formats — from the pulpit, with a brief video, via an email or text, and on social media — to prove that their giving makes a difference.

Tip #3: Make the year-end giving ask

Many donors are encouraged to give by knowing the impact of their donations. For faith donors, giving is deeper than impact. It’s often a spiritual calling.  

According to the 2024 Giving in Faith report, faith communities are abundantly generous. Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed agreed that their faith inspires them to give generously to their place of worship, 

Pastors who build community and share the personal and broader impact of living generously reap the rewards of giving at this time of year. Make the year-end ask, and let the generosity of your members, guests, and online worshippers surprise you.   

When you make the giving ask, make giving easy. Remind your congregation Givelify’s mobile app lets them give any amount instantly and securely from anywhere at any time — even if they are traveling for the holidays.

Think ahead: One crucial step for 2025 

The holidays pass quickly, and the new year will be here before you know it. As you plan for year-end giving, ensure your strategy extends into the year ahead. 

While December 31 and January 1 are among the biggest giving days of the year, don’t overlook another crucial day: the first Sunday in January. In 2025, that’s Sunday, January 5, so make sure your end-of-year planning also includes the first five days of the new year. 

Year-end is the ideal time for reflection and renewal. As people are looking back and looking forward, it’s a perfect time to celebrate their faithfulness and cast a vision about how giving through your church will transform lives, families, communities, and beyond in the year ahead. 

As they step into the new year, they’ll be ready to start 2025 off with a renewed commitment to faithful, consistent generosity.

Wishing you year-end giving success 

Whether it’s during worship or on the go, from your website to social media, Givelify makes consistent giving convenient and secure.   

We hope these tips and reminders help your place of worship exceed your annual fundraising goals.  

We wish you happy holidays, and we look forward to doing more good with you in 2025!

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