Simple (and Authentic!) Ways to Encourage Year-End Giving at Your Church

Let’s face it: talking about money in church can be…tricky. Some churches avoid it altogether, while others may overemphasize it in ways that feel uncomfortable. Most of us, however, simply want to encourage our congregations to walk in healthy, biblical rhythms of generosity—partnering with God to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Why Year-End Giving Matters

With the New Year’s right around the corner, now is a great opportunity to invite your congregation to give in a way that has an eternal impact. Why? Because December is one of the most generous times of the year. Many people are already planning gifts to nonprofits—whether as part of their end-of-year traditions or for tax benefits. 

As church leaders, we have the opportunity to help our communities see year-end giving as more than just a practical gesture. It’s an act of worship—a chance to align our hearts with God’s purposes and reflect His generosity to the world.

With that in mind, here are seven simple and authentic ways your church can encourage year-end giving and inspire your congregation to engage in generosity that truly matters.

7 Inspiring Ways to Encourage Year-End Giving at Church

Tell Stories That Bring Generosity to Life

Generosity becomes tangible when people see the difference it makes. In the weeks leading up to New Year’s, share real-life stories about how giving has impacted your church and community, whether by supporting a mission trip, funding a local outreach, or helping families in need.

How to Make it Happen:

• Share testimonies during services to show how generosity has made a real difference in people’s lives.
• Feature these stories on social media and encourage individuals to share their experiences in their own words. This creates user-generated content (UGC)—content created by your audience, which can be incredibly engaging and impactful.
• If the people featured in your stories are comfortable, ask them to "collaborate" on the post. For platforms like Instagram, this means your post can appear on their profiles, too, helping to reach a broader audience with minimal effort.
• Create a short video or slideshow featuring individuals impacted by your church’s ministry. Share this online or during services to inspire and encourage generosity.

Make Giving Simple and Accessible

When generosity feels both easy and intentional, it becomes a natural rhythm of worship! Simplify the experience by offering multiple ways to give, whether online, through text, or in person.

How to Incorporate This:

• Ensure your church’s “Give” page is simple, clear, and easy to navigate, offering multiple giving options like one-time gifts, recurring donations, and text-to-give.
• Share step-by-step instructions for text-to-give during services and in emails to make mobile giving fast and convenient.
• Set up welcoming giving stations in high-traffic areas, with visible signage and friendly volunteers ready to assist.

Unite Your Church with a Giving Campaign

A focused giving campaign provides clarity and purpose for year-end giving. Themes like “Hope for the Holidays” or “Light the Way” give people a specific goal to rally around.

Simple Ways to Create a Giving Campaign:

• Use visual tools like a giving tree or progress bar to make donation tracking engaging and transparent.
• Share regular updates with your congregation, celebrating milestones and highlighting the impact of their generosity.
• Connect the campaign to a clear goal, such as launching a new ministry, supporting a nonprofit, or meeting a community need.
• Download Tithely’s free Year-End-Giving Playbook for nine ready-to-use templates for your year-end giving campaign!

Cast a Vision for the Year Ahead

Year-end giving isn’t just about closing the books on this year—it’s also about preparing for what’s to come. Help your congregation see how their generosity impacts the future of your church’s ministry.

Ways to Cast Vision:

• Share specific goals for 2025, like launching a new outreach program, supporting global missions, or updating church facilities.
• Use Sunday services or host a vision night to cast a compelling picture of what’s ahead and how the congregation’s generosity can make it possible.

Multiply Generosity with a Giving Match Opportunity

Gift matching is a powerful tool in the nonprofit world because it creates excitement and demonstrates how generosity can go even further. A matching gift challenge inspires people to give by showing how their contributions are multiplied.

How to Make it Happen:

• Partner with a donor or organization that will match contributions up to a specific amount.
• Promote the matching opportunity during services, in emails, and on social media to ensure everyone knows about it.
• Highlight the urgency with phrases like, “Every gift doubles your impact!” to motivate timely participation.

Create Worshipful Moments for Giving

Giving isn’t just practical—it’s spiritual. When giving becomes part of worship, it connects the heart to the action. Create moments in your services where people can reflect on the meaning of generosity and respond as an act of worship.

How to Incorporate This:

• Use scriptures like Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” or 2 Corinthians 8:12, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”
• Include a personal testimony or lead a moment of prayer before the offering to create a meaningful connection.
• Remind your congregation that giving is an act of trusting God with what He has already provided.

Celebrate Generosity with Gratitude

Gratitude is powerful. A culture of gratitude reminds your congregation that their contributions are valued and impactful. Recognizing their generosity not only encourages continued giving but also strengthens the sense of community and shared purpose.

How to Express Gratitude to Your Congregation:

• Send personalized thank-you notes to donors, expressing specific appreciation for their generosity.
• Celebrate milestones or share the tangible impact of giving during Sunday services to inspire and encourage others.
• Use social media to thank the entire congregation collectively, incorporating visuals and testimonies that highlight the difference their giving has made.

Bonus Tip: Remember That Generosity Goes Beyond Money!

Year-end giving isn’t just about finances. A popular Barna report highlights that Millennials and Gen Z are particularly generous with their time and talents, often volunteering to make a difference. Generosity takes many forms, and by recognizing all of them, your church can inspire a deeper commitment to the mission.

Ways to Inspire Generosity of Time and Talents:

• Organize volunteer opportunities such as serving meals, assembling care packages, or supporting local outreach programs.
• Incorporate messaging that emphasizes the value of non-monetary contributions, showing how acts of service also advance the church’s mission.
• Celebrate the ways your congregation has served throughout the year, sharing stories and testimonials to highlight their impact.

Ready to Inspire Generosity?

Encouraging year-end giving is about more than meeting your budget goals—it’s about inviting your congregation to look more like Jesus as they are shaped by generosity! Whether through financial gifts, time, or talents, generosity transforms both the giver and the receiver.

Looking to make giving easier for your church? A reliable church management system can streamline operations and create a seamless giving experience for your congregation. Discover how the right tools can help your church focus on what matters most—building the kingdom of God.