Blog
Generosity
How to Thank Givers
Not all thank yous are created equal. When it comes to thanking people for their charitable contributions, your approach matters. This isn't the first time I've written about the value of saying thank you. I talk frequently about the importance of sharing stories to...
Normalizing Conversations About Money Through Small Groups
Many pastors feel uneasy about bringing up the topic of money. You might get brave enough to talk about it during November as part of an annual "giving campaign," and you'll preach four or five money-themed messages (in a row!) during a building project every few...
Three Steps to Ensure a Successful Year-End Giving Appeal
In 2016, people gave $390 billion to charitable organizations, a record level for the third year in a row. According to the most recent data available, online giving is growing at more than four times the pace of overall giving, and data shows 31% of online...
Important Dates for Year-End Giving
Year-end giving is a big deal. According to recent data, 31% of annual charitable giving occurs in December, with 12% of donations given during the last three days of the year. Why is that? Surely it's because of your inspired preaching during the Advent season,...
Engaging Millennial Givers
As the proud father of two young adults, I might have a slightly biased opinion, but I think Millennials, people born between 1981 and 1998, have gotten a bad rap. Now the largest living generation, Millennials have been pegged as entitled, lazy, insubordinate,...
Accelerating Year-End Giving at Your Church
Did October sneak up on you, too? It seems like just yesterday you were powering through Vacation Bible School, and now—suddenly—it's only 10 weeks until Christmas. (Did your blood pressure go up a bit just now?) Along with the stress of planning for the Christmas...
Encouraging People on their Generosity Journey
Today I want to challenge you to consider this pathway from a new perspective. Let’s look at this concept in terms of behavior. Rather than defining each step by an amount given, or a percentage of income, let’s define each step with a new behavior.
New Year-End Giving Guide Now Available
With fewer than 100 days left in the year, you may find yourself wondering how you can encourage your people to “finish strong” this year in terms of generosity. Now is the perfect time to be asking yourself that question.