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Year-end giving is a big undertaking. You might feel a little frazzled and wonder how you will even begin to reach donors. Fortunately, #GivingTuesday is quickly approaching and presents the perfect opportunity to kick off your year-end giving.
Celebrating its fifth year, #GivingTuesday has over 40,000 organizations in 71 countries involved in a worldwide movement of, you guessed it, GIVING! Last year, donors contributed $116.7 million to charity on #GivingTuesday. This is a 52% increase from 2014, so the expectations for this year’s event are running at an all-time high and churches just like yours are wondering:
How can we use #GivingTuesday to jumpstart OUR year-end giving campaign?
1. Get Mobilized
People are on the go more than ever these days, so the easier you can make it for them to give, the better. Since #GivingTuesday obviously falls on a Tuesday, your church may not be holding regular service or meetings that day; however, you can still reach your members wherever they may be by offering online, mobile, and Text Giving. Using the Kiosk Giving option is a great way to provide a visual reminder to members and guests that #GivingTuesday is a good time to get involved your ministry.
2. Share to Show You Care
Make sure to share your year-end plan with members and explain how their donations will continue to grow your ministry well into the new year. To grow and maintain relationships, you should be telling your donors how their efforts enable the church to help others in need. If they’re not sure that their contributions are actually making a difference, they may become disengaged and decline or even stop donations. Sharing stories of what the church accomplish through giving is a great way to get your members truly involved and excited about your mission and will kindle generosity far beyond #GivingTuesday.
3. Utilize Marketing Resources
Why re-invent the wheel when there are tons of free marketing resources out there? All you have to do is look! For example, the Resources Section in the easyTithe admin panel provides several templates to support and drive your church’s giving goals. There are also creative graphics available to help promote #GivingTuesday, as well as other sample emails, bulletin inserts, images and more to encourage giving throughout the year. And don’t overlook the instructional guides for members that explain how to set up a giving account, recurring donations and even text giving. Take the time to share these materials to get your members involved and ensure a successful #GivingTuesday!
4. Communicate…Often
Want to achieve and surpass your #GivingTuesday goals? Then share the journey of your mission with your members on a regular basis. Giving members frequent updates and showing them your progress in reaching milestones will go a long way in helping you establish and grow your year-end giving campaign. People want to know that their time and financial contributions are actually helping. If you show them how far you’ve come and how far you have left to go, they will remain engaged and continue to bless your ministry. Learn more about our easy-to-use Church Management Software, easyTithe Plus, to keep you organized and in contact with your members!
