With 2021 winding down, it’s time to think about year-end giving and pledges. The holidays seem to bring out the generosity in people, and the month leading up to the new year is the time when people are most likely to give.
Year-end donations and pledges can have a big impact on your church’s budget and help you fulfill your mission. To maximize your year-end giving, you’ll want to plan ahead. Even though many people hold off on donating until the last minute, by getting information out early, you can help them have time to think about their year-end-giving plans so they can give in a way that works for them.
So, how can you prepare for the giving season?
Cast Your Vision
One of the first things you’ll want to do is create a vision around your year-end giving and pledges. How will the donations be used in 2022? Show how you plan to make an impact through each of your ministries, outreach, and missions.
This isn’t simply a regular Sunday giving message; decide on a specific purpose you can accomplish with your year-end giving and share it with your members. Communication is key. You want to have a consistent message that drives awareness across all channels—your church’s website, mobile app, social media platforms, direct mail, and email.
Accept Pledges
Don’t only focus on one-time gifts. Instead, set up recurring giving opportunities through pledges. Pledges often form the financial foundation of a church and allow church leadership to create a workable budget. Pledging allows members to decide on the amount of financial giving they are comfortable with so they can plan ahead and budget themselves. Pledges are not a legal or moral obligation, but simply represent a member’s commitment to support their local church.
Don’t Forget Your Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of your church. They share your vision and carry out the tasks of running a church—teaching classes, leading small groups, welcoming visitors, and tackling administrative tasks. Because they share your vision, they are also likely to want to donate to your cause.
Let Your ChMS Do the Work for You
A good church management software (ChMS) system is designed with online donations, recurring giving, and pledges in mind. People can go online, make their commitment known, connect their debit card, and donate without friction.
Managing your year-end donations and reports is much simpler with a ChMS, too. Your ChMS connects online giving with your members’ financial record so that you save time and reduce the mistakes that come with manual entry.
If you’d like to see how a ChMS can prepare you for easy year-end giving and pledges, schedule a free test drive with FellowshipOne. There’s still time to implement a ChMS with your year-end giving strategy and make the most of this holiday season!
