In today’s digital world, more and more churches depend on online giving to stay connected with their members and streamline their donation processes. Embracing online church giving makes giving more convenient and builds stronger relationships with your congregation.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into some key facts about online giving, shedding light on its significance and impact. Plus, we’ll explore how churches like yours can effectively use online giving, select the best platform for your needs, and share one of the best online giving platforms for churches.
From understanding the statistics to implementing practical strategies, we hope to equip you with the knowledge and tools to maximize the benefits of online giving at your church.
Key Facts About Online Giving
Online giving has grown increasingly popular, especially in recent years. Here are nine interesting facts about this innovative way to give and what it could mean for your church.
1. Online Giving Increases Overall Donations by 32%
With cash and checks declining steadily, online giving has rapidly become the preferred option for many people. Churches that accept online tithing experience a 32% overall increase in donations. With this surge in popularity, comes a variety of amazing giving platforms that offer churches many great tools and features like recurring donations – which can help build more sustainable revenue streams for your church.
2. Card Transactions Account for Nearly 50% of Church Giving
If 50% of your congregation is forgoing the collection plate to swipe their card or use a digital wallet, you can’t afford to be left behind. Modern methods for collecting offerings and tithes make it easier for your members to support your church. A time and resource-efficient way to make this switch is to consider setting up a giving kiosk in your church.
3. 8 out of 10 Church Givers Have Zero Credit Debt
Church donors typically have less credit debt, giving them the freedom to support your church in meaningful ways. However, it’s important to encourage every church member to joyfully give according to their means, no matter their financial circumstances.
A tip for challenging economic times: Encourage generosity that goes beyond offerings and tithes. Encourage and inspire members to give of their time and talents, not just their treasure, to support the church’s ministries.
4. 60% of People Are Willing to Give to their Church Digitally
A heartening number; many people are embracing online giving because it offers an easy way to support their church whenever they feel compelled. Some platforms even accept donations through digital wallets like Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal, making giving on the go even easier.
If this data is not reflected in your congregation’s current giving habits, consider how you might ease them into virtual donations. This article has eleven practical tips to help get you started.
5. 44% of Millennials Prefer to Pay for Small Items With Their Phone Instead of Cash
Technology is shaping the way we engage with the world around us. millennials’ preference to pay online points to the convenience and ease that digital platforms bring into our daily lives. By embracing online church giving, you’re able to meet multiple generations where they are and where they feel comfortable and connected.
6. 40% of Millenials and 49% of Gen X Donors Donate Monthly
While we’re on the topic of younger generations, it’s important to note that both millennials and Gen X appreciate the ease of recurring giving. It seamlessly fits into their busy lives and with just a few clicks, they can support your church or their favorite causes. This is a clear sign of their deep commitment to supporting the missions they care about.
7. Donor Engagement Boosts Crowdfunding by 126%
Simply updating your church crowdfunding or giving page can increase your donations by over 100%. Engaging with your online givers is key when raising funds for your church. It’s all about keeping your donors in the loop and showing them the impact of their support.
Build a great church donation form: Donation forms are an excellent way for churches to collect members’ offerings and tithes, as well as raise money for specific campaigns and programs. This step-by-step guide will help you create a donation page that makes collecting offerings easy.
8. 97% of Campaigns That Are Shared Less Than Twice Fail
Promoting your church fundraising campaigns on platforms like social media and email significantly increases donations. In fact, over half of crowdfunding email recipients end up donating. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact communication can have on uniting people for a common cause.
9. Crowdfunding Campaigns with Videos Raise 150% More Than Those Without
People love connecting with individual stories when it comes to deciding where to give. When you share your personal story video on your campaign page, you’re not just asking for donations, you’re inviting people into your personal experience and along for the journey.
How to Use Online Giving at Your Church
Understanding the significance of church giving is just the first step. Let’s consider the practical ways you can seamlessly integrate online donations into your church, starting today.
Make Giving Even Easier with Mobile Giving
For millions of people, their mobile phone is practically an extension of their hand! Recognize the importance of mobile devices in today’s digital landscape and consider using mobile giving as a convenient option for your church members.
Choose an online giving form that offers a mobile-responsive interface, a dedicated mobile app, or a mobile kiosk app for easy access and navigation. Some church giving platforms offer text-to-give features, making it even easier to give on the go.
Provide Multiple Giving Options
Alongside online giving, continue to accept cash and check donations for those who favor traditional methods. Flexibility ensures everyone can contribute, no matter their preferences and needs.
Pro tip: Ensure your online church giving platform can track both online and offline transactions for better donation management and acknowledgment of every member’s generosity.
Regularly Promote Online Church Giving
Offer clear instructions, address any concerns, and promote online giving through church bulletins, email, website, social media, and service announcements. Emphasize the convenience and benefits of online giving, highlighting its support for your church’s mission anytime, anywhere.
It may also be helpful to provide demonstrations or video tutorials on how church members can create a Donor Portal to manage their donations and how to make a secure online donation.
Deepen Relationships with Supporters
With the donor information collected by your giving platform, you’re not just keeping track of donations; you’re opening a door to deeper connections with your church family.
Some online platforms can even remember birthdays and giving anniversaries, allowing you to celebrate supporters and show your appreciation in special ways. We recommend using a platform that integrates with your current church management software so all your church data is in one place.
Choosing the Best Online Giving Platform For Your Church
Choosing an online church giving solution is a significant step toward shaping the financial future of your church. Invest the time in researching and selecting a platform that aligns with your church’s needs and values.
To support you in this decision-making process, we’ve compiled a list of essential factors and questions to consider when selecting the best online giving platform for your church.
Evaluate Features
Look for an online church giving platform that offers a wide range of user-friendly features, such as customizable donation options, secure payment processing, and integration capabilities with your existing church management system.
Questions to consider:
- Does it offer multiple payment options?
- Does it have mobile giving or text-to-give features?
- Does it offer flexible recurring donation options?
- Does it integrate with your church management system?
Put Users First
An online giving platform can have all the bells and whistles, but if it’s not user-friendly, it won’t give you the results you’re hoping for. Make sure that every feature is as intuitive and easy as possible. This might mean testing with your church members to ensure that navigating the platform is a breeze for everyone.
Questions to consider:
- Is it user-friendly and easy to navigate?
- Can you customize it to reflect your church’s branding and messaging?
- Can donors complete their transactions quickly and easily?
- Are there any barriers or obstacles that may deter donors from using the platform?
Consider Fees and Costs
Pay close attention to the fees associated with each online giving platform, including transaction fees and monthly subscription costs. Compare these against the platform’s features to ensure you’re getting the best value for your church’s budget. Don’t forget to read the fine print to catch any hidden fees such as add-ons or startup costs.
Questions to consider:
- What are the transaction fees for each donation?
- Are there any monthly subscription costs?
- Are there additional fees for specific features or services?
- Is there a setup fee or any hidden costs?
Prioritize Security
Security is paramount when it comes to online church giving. Choose a platform that prioritizes the security of your church’s financial information and complies with industry standards for data protection. Look for features like encryption methods, PCI compliance, and fraud prevention measures to ensure donations are processed safely and securely.
Why Donorbox MinistryMomentum Stands Out
We understand that choosing the right platform for your church is a big decision and there are many online giving options available. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Donorbox MinistryMomentum—a user-friendly, secure online giving solution that ticks all the boxes.
Create your free Donorbox account today and take advantage of robust features like:
QR Codes
With Donorbox, each church fundraising campaign automatically generates a customizable QR code, which can be displayed at your church lobby, events, or marketing materials. This QR code enables quick and convenient giving to your church, providing an easy way for members to support your mission.
Text-to-Give
Donorbox Text-to-Give feature allows your congregation to give via quick text messages. By enabling Text-to-Give and sharing unique campaign IDs or keywords, donors can easily contribute to your church with a simple text, making giving as easy as sending a message.
QuickDonate™
Donorbox QuickDonate™ feature allows one-time givers to save their information for future donations, streamlining the donation process and encouraging repeat giving. Donors receive login details after their first donation, giving them access to their donor accounts to make future contributions quickly and easily.
Donorbox Live™ Kiosk
The Donorbox Live™ Kiosk app makes in-person fundraising easy and convenient for your church and its supporters. By adding the app to an iPad or Android tablet and pairing it with a card reader device, you can accept cashless donations at events and church locations, making fundraising more accessible and efficient.
Donorbox Events
Donorbox Events simplifies church event planning with customizable pages featuring text, images, videos, and background imagery. Its embedded ticketing form allows unlimited ticket tiers and easy tax deductibility setup. Attendees can also share preferences and donate directly through the form, enhancing engagement with your church community.
Donorbox Peer-to-Peer
With Donorbox Peer-to-Peer, church members can support your message and help raise funds for ministry programs. Members create fundraising pages, reaching out to networks for support. Donations from these campaigns fuel your mission and vision, multiplying impact beyond your walls.
Conclusion
Online church giving offers numerous benefits for modern churches, including streamlined donation processes, stronger donor engagement, and increased giving. By embracing online giving platforms, churches can better connect with members and cultivate a culture of generosity and inclusivity.
Keep in mind that it’s important to choose the right online giving platform to ensure a smooth transition to digital giving and to maximize its impact. At Donorbox, we’re dedicated to supporting churches like yours through our specialized platform, Donorbox MinistryMomentum.
To discover how Donorbox can support your church’s online giving, visit our Donorbox MinistryMomentum page.
For more church giving insights and tools, check out ChurchGiving.org.
