And we know – your ministry teams likely don’t think they can add one more thing to their schedules. But here are four things you can start doing this week to help meet (or even exceed) your year-end giving goals.

• Set goals for your groups of givers. Take a look at your giving records and divide your givers into categories based on their giving habits. Who gives regular gifts? Who makes larger one-time gifts? People will likely follow those same patterns as the year winds down, so start making plans for how you’ll reach them.

• Cast vision for your staff, and encourage their gifts. Make sure your staff and key volunteer leaders are fully committed to your year-end goals and giving projects. Encourage generosity and reinforce your church’s commitment to your year-end goals as actions really do speak louder than words.

• Show your appreciation to your most faithful givers. Right now, before expectations for a year-end gift start coming into play, reach out to your most faithful givers and "...download free year-end giving resources..."let them know (again) how much you appreciate their financial support. Let them know once again how their generosity has helped bring your shared ministry visions to life.

• Start educating your members and regular attendees on their giving options. Make sure your giving options are communicated regularly to your attendees in your email newsletters, weekly bulletins, and the giving materials available at your welcome center – everywhere. And keep publicizing those options anywhere and everywhere you can.

By laying the groundwork now, your year-end giving efforts will be that much more effective and you’ll start the new calendar year on even more solid financial footing.

Missed Part 1? Check it out here: "Engage The Hearts of Your Givers Pt. 1"

EXCEED

When online giving started to gain traction years ago, churches were slow to respond. Fortunately, church leaders have come around – only to realize that simply offering an online giving option doesn’t mean people will automatically start giving.

Because 'offering' the opportunity to give online is only half the formula.

The option alone does not make someone generous; simply offering online giving does nothing to cultivate the generous habits of individuals and families.

People give to a vision, not to a line item, budget or project. And if we believe that giving is an external reality of an inward commitment, then we can safely make the assumption that those who give are ‘all in.’

And when churches integrate their online giving with their church management software, they experience a measurable increase in online giving participation and greater clarity about the people in their pews.

There are several ways a church management system can enhance your church’s ability to cultivate online giving and increase generosity. Here are just a few to consider:

• It records information to help connect personally with each individual giver. When you can assess giving habits, you gain a sense of life situations which creates opportunities for you to minister them in ways they never expected.

• It creates a system to help you track and follow up with first-time givers. When your church management software and online giving systems are connected, it’s easy to follow-up with first-time givers.

• It helps ensure you have an accurate picture of your members, their habits, and measurable trends. It allows you to assess giving patterns in concert with other engagement milestones and markers.