4 Ways to Build Happy Givers

Do you think it’s important for people in your church to be happy givers? Let’s face it–it’s one thing for your church to receive money from people who are begrudgingly, or even apathetically giving, but wouldn’t it be amazing for people in your church to joyfully give out of what they’ve been given? How would…

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10 Creative Ways to Say “Thank You” to Donors

When it comes to thanking donors for their donations, good intentions are the pathway to failure. No one feels thanked because you had intentions to say “thank you.” They feel thanked because you actually thanked them. Many people skip this because it feels so overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to feel that way. You don’t have…

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Why a Giving Strategy Matters

There are two kinds of churches, and they’re revealed by the way they answer this question, regarding their giving strategy: How much money will your church bring in this year? Type 1 answers with a figure. Type 2 answers with something vague. The thing is, those Type 1 churches are usually correct in their confident,…

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Loving Through Giving

“You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving” – Amy Carmichael Carmichael hits a valid point, but we know that church giving is complicated, multi-faceted, and requires a balanced approach. Your church needs a budget to keep the doors open, but money is a difficult topic to talk about, both from…

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Developing Donors Isn’t A Sin

Discipleship involves helping people take steps towards Jesus. This includes helping them take steps financially. If you want to lead a financially healthy church, then you need an intentional strategy for turning tippers into givers, and turning givers into tithers. If you’re like most pastors, there’s a part of this that sounds uncomfortable. Perhaps you…

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Why You Shouldn’t Send Annual Contribution Statements

We did a study last year and learned that 9% of churches didn’t send any form of annual contribution statement.  I’m no lawyer, but that’s potentially illegal. When people give money to your church, the IRS wants you to send them documentation.  Most churches choose to send a statement with a letter from the pastor…

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Why People Don’t Tithe To Your Church

You pass the plate every week, you’ve got an online giving button on your website and you send a super-informative letter with a contribution statement. So why don’t more people give to your church? Or why don’t people increase their giving to fund the vision?  Here are seven reasons people don’t tithe to your church.…

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Five Things You Can Do to Increase Regular Giving in Your Church

“Having money beats not having money,” a pastor emailed us last week. While there are churches in all kinds of settings doing ministry in all kinds of ways, money does seem to be a common denominator.  Resources can make ministry happen.  Finances can facilitate ministry. You don’t need a car wash or a capital campaign…

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10 Things Pastors Should Know About Thanking Financial Leaders

This past week I had two extensive coaching sessions with pastors regarding how best to thank financial leaders, otherwise known as wealthy people. There are many misconceptions about the important topic of engaging those with significant financial resources.  Therefore, I would like to pass on 10 pieces of critical information that all pastors and church…

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