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Inspiring a culture of generosity is essential to further the mission of the church. But, cultivating this culture of giving and participation is no easy feat. Everyone is unique in what ignites them to tithe and inspires them to become an active member of your church family. In many aspects, churchgoers are very similar in their devotion. Other times, their generation can play a significant role in how they give and what inspires them to do so.
To help you ignite a culture of generosity among all age groups that walk through your church’s doors, let’s explore how the different generations give. Before we begin, here’s a breakdown according to Pew Research of generations and their birth years:
• The Silent Generation: 1928-1945
• Baby Boomers: 1946-1964
• Generation X: 1965-1980
• Millennials: 1981-1996
• Generation Z: 1997-2000’s
Now that you have a better idea of when the different generations where born, let’s begin!
Text and mobile giving
It’s no surprise that Millenials respond to text messages and mobile giving apps the best. The younger generation is very active on their phones and confident when it comes to using technology. However, don’t rule out other age groups when it comes to text and mobile giving! Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are both active on mobile devices. Roughly 85% percent of Gen Xers and 67% of Baby Boomers own a smartphone.
The best way to encourage people to give via text and mobile app is by prompting them with a social or text message. Emails and phone alerts are frequently checked by Millenials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers. These generations are prone to base their giving decisions on the information that prompted them to donate. Include images or videos, and clearly state the cause the church is raising money to ignite generosity.
Church website donation pages
Branded donation pages are at the top of the list for all generations when it comes to giving to the church. Almost half of Millenials give directly through the faith-based organization’s website. In fact, 30% of the Silent generation has donated on a website. Both Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are familiar with paying bills online, and the majority of these age groups prefer the convenience of tithing directly through the church’s website.
To inspire young generations like Millenials to give to your website, focus on social media. Young generations want to learn about the initiatives the church is focused on before giving, and they hang out on platforms like Facebook.
For older generations, focus on email. Thirty-one percent of Gen Xers that gave on donation pages did so because of an email they received. Baby Boomers also check emails on a regular basis. But, when reaching out to Boomers, emphasize your recurring giving program because they’re most likely to sign up compared to other age groups.
Social Media
While social media is an excellent way to inspire people to give on all devices, don’t forget that 21% of gifts are donated directly through social platforms. Integrate a Facebook app on your church’s Facebook page, so donors can give to your page from their own home screen. Not only will Millenials and Gen Xers use this giving tool, but 59% of the upcoming Generation Z are inspired to give by messages on social media.
Let all generations access the convenience of online giving with easyTithe! We provide multiple ways to give, and you can learn more at 1-888-778-4843 or sales@easytithe.com.
