4 Steps to Encourage End of Year Generosity

Did you know that 31% of all charitable giving occurs in December? Most of this extra giving happens during the final 3 days of the year.

This means the month of December is a great time to encourage end of year giving by inspiring your donors who may be considering extra giving to your ministry!

Here are 4 easy ways ministries can inspire and encourage end of year giving:

1. Show appreciation for all their giving throughout the year.

Let your donors know how much you appreciate their generosity over the last year. Donors often wonder if their gifts even ‘make a difference’. We all know that even the smallest donations matter, so make sure they know that too!

Remind them that it’s only due to their generosity that the ministry is able to continue. You can do this with a simple letter or card, or even an email thanking them for their faithful giving.

2. Share an inspiring story.

Donors can be blessed and have their faith strengthened by seeing specific ways God is using their giving in your ministry.

How do you do this? Look back over what’s happened in your ministry in the past year, and share about how their giving has impacted the lives of others. You may decide to share about someone who was reached by a recovery ministry, or a family that was helped by your benevolence fund, or a missions trip that reached people with the Gospel in a far away land.

Then have the people who were helped share their story during your announcements, or type the story and and send an email, or record and share a video.

Learn more about inspiring year end generosity. View the webinar recording: Inspire Year End Generosity with Servant Keeper and GivePlus.

3. Keep your donors informed regarding upcoming needs.

Keeping your donors informed about needs can give them time to plan, pray, and even adjust their saving and spending so that they’re able to give. Remember, with all the spending (and giving to other charities) many of your donors are doing at the end of the year, it may be easy for them to forget that your ministry has specific needs. A simple reminder may be all they need.

Maybe you’re close to meeting budget or there is a special missions trip coming up or the furnace needs replaced, etc. Let them know! To learn more about the importance of communication, read the guide, 5 ways to Have a Strong Giving Season.

4. Make it easier for your donors to act on their generosity.

Allow your members to give in whatever way is easiest for them. During the holidays, people travel. The winter weather can make it hard for some of your members to make it to church. Plus, current trends suggest fewer and fewer people are carrying cash or checks.

Be proactive and provide your donors with ways to give from wherever they are!

• Set up electronic giving. Allow your members to give through text, mobile, and web! This means they can give even when they forget their checkbook, or they can’t make it to church.
• Then, help them give by emailing or texting links to your egiving solutions.
• For more information on egiving, or to get started today, reach out by clicking here.