Over the last few years, the world has slowly been transitioning towards a cashless society with the emergence of contactless payment and tap-and-go options. Shopping online and paying bills digitally has become the new normal across all generations. Moreover, as fewer millennials attend church, it's becoming critical for churches to improve their online strategy in order to appeal to younger individuals. In this article, we'll explain what digital giving is before diving into the powerful benefits that have rendered this concept the new normal.
Digital giving is the action of donating money to charitable organizations online. There are a few different ways to donate online:
Text-to-Give — Donors text a keyword and amount to a number to give instantly. This is a quick and easy way to give via mobile phone.
Giving Website Page — You can offer a giving option through your website by embedding a payment system. Make sure your website is optimized and your giving page appeals to donors.
Digital Giving App — Offering the option to donate via an app can be very efficient. An app enables quick and easy access to the donation page as well as recurring payment setups, reminders, messaging options, and other useful functionalities.
Cashless Society
A study by DepositAccounts showed that 33% of Americans can't make a $20 purchase unless they go to the ATM. People carry less cash than ever before, limiting the donations you can hope to receive on Sundays. As a result of this shift, 49% of church donations in the USA now stem from credit cards.
Offering online payment options to your members will therefore likely ensure the health and growth of your church's generosity. It mitigates the risk of your members forgetting cash and makes it easy for them to set up recurring donations so that they can even give when away or on vacation.
People Prefer to Give Online
Trends have shifted, and people prefer to give online, whether through a church website or a dedicated app. According to a study by Reach Right, approximately 60% of people prefer to give online. Churches need to embrace new technologies and harness the power of online charitable giving in order to thrive.
Online Giving is More Flexible and Secure
Online giving — whether via text-to-give, an app, or a website — is an extremely convenient way to donate for churchgoers. By allowing them to donate online, you ensure they can give whenever they want and as often as they want. Online giving is no longer restricted to Sundays, allowing givers to pick the best time for them.
Digital giving is also a seamless process. Not only does it allow members to give at the click of a simple button, but it also makes the whole process hassle-free for you. With online giving, you can easily track your donations and monitor their evolution, so you can quickly implement strategies if donations decrease. It can also increase your donation efficiency, as it prevents cash from being lost or stolen.
Smartphone and Internet Use is Widespread
The overwhelming majority of Americans own a smartphone, and chances are they'll have it with them at church — making it easy to donate online before, during, or after the service.
We hope this article sheds some light on the benefits of offering digital giving as an option to your church. If you're ready to harness the power of technology, platforms like Overflow make digital giving simple. And for a complete generosity plan, download the free Year-End Giving Playbook at buildthe.church.
