Giving statistics and the changes I made in response
Below are some statistics that have informed my thinking around giving/tithing and some of the steps I have taken in response.
Per-Capita Giving
Great churches have a per capita above around $62
Above average churches see between $47 and $62 per week
The avg church has a per capita of $37-45 per week.
Below average churches have a per capita less than $37 per week
My Response: We have set a per-capital giving goal of 44 per week and have included it on our scoreboard.
Online Giving
Can boost tithing by 32%.
Nonprofit Source found that 49% of all donations are made via a card.
The most common time to give online
According to Tithe.ly 67%-73% of giving happens Monday through Saturday and 30% of donations come in between 9 PM and 6 AM. This means that the majority of online giving happens at times other than Sunday morning!
My Response: We set up a giving reminder via text to go out at strategic times that match these findings.
Method
57% offer mobile giving options
24% offer online
14% offer text
My Response: We offer 5 giving options. Text, E-Giving, Envelopes, App Giving, and a Kiosk in the foyer
Large givers
The average church sees to top 15% of donors give 51%
Response #1: When we give out giving statements (3 times per year) we set up a table in our lobby where our finance team personally hands out the sealed statements and personally thanks everyone for their giving.
Response #1: I have multiple Thanksgiving dinners each fall for the entire church to attend (last year we did 8 dinners for adults only). All held at a nice restaurant ($4000 budget). In these dinners we share stories of salvations, wins at the church and vision for the future and thank everyone for their giving. Last year we raised an additional $350,000 from these dinners.
Preferred Methods
14% of church attendees want envelopes while 68% want digital
My Response: We no longer automatically purchase envelopes for everyone. We do have envelopes in the offering and we offer to provide them to anyone who desires them.
Digital is king
74% of Americans write one check or less per month
80% of Americans carry $50 cash or less
More than 1/5 of millennials have never written a check
Mobile giving increased by 205% in 2015
Miscellaneous
Tithers make up 10-25% of a typical church
Religious giving is down 50% since 1990
The avg Christian gives 2.5% of their income
Those who attend 27+ times per year give an avg of $2,935
Recurring givers give 42% more than one-time donors