First Time Giver Strategy?
When I visit with Church teams around the Nation, they can easily quote attendance records, offering totals, spiritual health markers such as number of baptisms, volunteers, small groups, etc. and all these data points are crucial to a healthy growing culture and should be tracked.
The good news is that the majority of church leaders I intersect with do this well.
However, there is one question I ask that tends to evoke a deer in the headlights look:
How well are you caring for your givers?
Caring for givers is an area in which churches often trail far behind traditional nonprofits. Too often, churches fall into the habit of “expecting people to give”. When this attitude predominates, giving is assumed and isn’t always celebrated in the way that it should be.
This month, I will be sharing practical ways your church can design and implement a strategy to care for your givers well! (and PS. it’s not rocket science)
Today, I want to address your “first-time” givers.
True Fact:
Harvard did a study after their last campaign, of their 254 million-dollar donors, 2 out of 3 started with first-time gifts of $100 or less.
A first time gift is an indication of:
1) the givers spiritual growth; and
2) the value they place on their relationship with your church.
Failing to engage after a first time gift can signal a number of unintended messages.
- This church is not grateful for my gift. Most people do not give to be thanked. Yet, not applying the simplest of human graces in a pastoral relationship borders on rudeness and ingratitude. Church leaders let’s not be rude instead let’s excel in gratitude and graciousness.
- My gift and potentially, my community life here are not important. I am a number and possibly presumed upon in financial giving.
- I am unaware if the church even got my gift other than it clearing my account. (Do we wish to delegate engaging with first-time givers to a bank? We can do better than a bank transaction.)
- Secular organizations and other faith-based organizations acknowledged my initial gift. What’s wrong with this church?
- I thought giving was a step of faith believing and trusting in God. Is that true? Did I just make a mistake?
Ignoring first-time gifts is a potential path towards a stewardship culture of mediocrity, or worse. Don’t miss a vital, spiritual step worth celebrating!
Next Step:
Take a moment and download the full resource provided by Generis below and start working on your first-time giver strategy right away. You’ll be glad you did!
Senior Generosity Strategist...Generis, Where More than $17 Billion Has Been Raised for Worthy Causes Worldwide
5 年"How well are you caring for your givers? ?You are so right, Jonathan. Few parish leaders ever ask this question. Glad you are. Thanks for the reminder.