4 Creative Ways to Encourage Recurring Church Donations

Churches rely on tithes and member donations to keep their doors open and run their programs. And while traditional funding sources are essential, they’re not the only way for churches to secure crucial funds. Encouraging recurring church donations rather than one-time actions is necessary for budget stability and funding diversification.

Just as the ideal donor for secular organizations is an ongoing sponsor with a long-time commitment, church budgets are most secure with contributors who are committed to structured and recurring giving.

It's time to rethink the collection plate—let’s dive into four unique ways to turn occasional giving into recurring giving for your church. 

1. Convert attendees into tithing members 

Take a look at a few facts supplied in a 2024 round-up of U.S. church revenue statistics. First, a few overall statistics:

• Only 17% of Americans engage in regular tithing
• The average church tithe without a regular commitment is $17
• The average church donation on a one-time basis is $205

Contrastingly, 77% of churchgoers who tithe regularly and with commitment contribute over 10% of their income. 

This isn’t a surprise to any church leaders but rather a reminder of the importance of attracting new visitors and inviting them to formalize their membership—including education about and commitment to tithing.

Taking occasional visitors from a casual relationship means identifying mentors, volunteers, and processes that help them grow into a part of your church body—not just as tithing members, but as stakeholders who are involved in giving to and receiving care from the church.

2. Go digital

While older church parishioners may rely on paper checks, it’s a declining preference. More churchgoers, particularly younger families, prefer digital tithing. Churches that offer online tithing report an average increase of 32% in overall donations—that’s a huge opportunity. 

Digital tithing can help increase weekly church donations in multiple ways. For parishioners, it can: 

• Separate giving from in-person church attendance
• Embed tithing within a core budget vs. a decision made during a church service
• Remove dependence on available cash or checks for occasional giving
• Reduce anxiety over cash and check handling that can lead to smaller or variable tithes

For the church, digital tithing can: 

• Testify to a level of financial capability of the church leadership
• Help automate and improve tax-related reporting
• Provide more stability to budgets with automated deposits
• Reduce administrative work of handling cash and checks

3. Try passive fundraisers like RaiseRight

Tithing tends to be a sermon topic that makes many church leaders cringe. Regardless of the setting, need, or intent, asking people for money can be challenging and uncomfortable. 

One way to foster a culture of generosity without asking too much of members is to enroll in RaiseRight, a passive fundraiser that can supplement other funding sources. 

Here’s how it works: you and your congregation can buy gift cards or shop online for goods and services already in your budgets, and your church receives up to 20% back with every purchase. It’s that simple! 

With hundreds of popular and beloved brands to choose from, like Sam’s Club, Amazon, The Home Depot, and more, anyone can incorporate RaiseRight into their budgeting and spending habits to raise money for your church. You’ll also find gift cards or online earnings available for dining, travel, entertainment, clothing, and more.

Check out these other benefits of using RaiseRight for your church: 

• Tech-savvy members can use the RaiseRight mobile app to instantly buy and refill eGift cards
• Older members can purchase physical gift cards from your inventory at church events if they’re not big on online shopping or mobile apps
• Anyone who shops online can raise money by activating earnings through the RaiseRight app or browser extension

Many families can easily earn $1,000 or more annually—no direct cash donations necessary.

Churches can also generate additional earnings by:

• Using RaiseRight gift cards to pay for operational expenses
• Purchasing grocery gift cards to distribute to individuals in need
• Purchasing gift cards or shopping online to support food banks, winter coat drives, back-to-school kits, etc.

4. Communicate impact

What are you raising funds for? If it's something specific, like an outreach program, communicate it with the church body. Whether it’s church tithing or giving to secular organizations, donors need to know where their money is being spent and what the results are. This means: 

• Capturing and recording data on programs, services, and events 
• Implementing clear, timely, and transparent communication
• Tracking dollars spent, including evidence of successful savings opportunities 
• Setting goals and aligning budgets with available funds 

And let’s face it—it’s easier to give to support a new bell tower, a children’s camp, or a mission trip than to donate to janitorial services and other unglamorous line items on an operating budget. Keep this in mind when you talk about keeping the lights on, and consider how basic funding translates to serving the community, sharing the gospel, and inviting more people into your doors. 

Boost your church budget with RaiseRight

Recurring giving for church budgets is a must. While many churches depend on weekly tithes and annual events to raise critical funds, it’s not the only way to meet your budget. Adding RaiseRight to your fundraising strategy can help you cover your operating costs and raise money for specific causes like building improvements or a mission trip. 

Best of all, it doesn’t require extra dollars out of parishioners’ pockets or volunteer hours on their calendars.