How is your church participating in GivingTuesday this year?
Whether you’ve participated in the past or not, GivingTuesday is a valuable opportunity for your church and community to rally around this year.
But before we get into how to make the most out of GivingTuesday, let’s talk about what GivingTuesday actually is.
What is GivingTuesday?
GivingTuesday was created with one goal in mind: to be a day that encourages people to do good. Since its founding in 2012, it has transformed into a global movement that motivates people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.*
What is GivingTuesday’s main focus?
GivingTuesday’s main focus is radical generosity, defined by its official website as “the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering.” GivingTuesday is a day dedicated to not just imagining but building a world based on shared humanity and generosity.*
Who can participate in GivingTuesday?
Everyone! GivingTuesday is for churches, non-profits, and small businesses alike. Anyone who wants to see and participate in efforts of radical generosity is welcome to participate.*
When is GivingTuesday?
GivingTuesday happens each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. That means this year it will be on November 30, 2021.*
What kind of impact does GivingTuesday have?
GivingTuesday impacts people from all walks of life across the world. To prove it, let’s take a look at their official numbers. Last year in the United States alone, $2.47 billion was given to participating organizations. Out of 33.1 million adults in the US who participated, 16.8 million people donated money, 9.8 million people gave goods, and 7.1 million people volunteered. More than 60 thousand people tuned into a livestream for GivingTuesday and 13.6 million conversations took place on social media about the day. And that’s just in the United States. Over 145 countries annually participate who see numbers just like the ones above.**
So, whether you’ve participated in the past or this is your first year hosting GivingTuesday at your church, here’s how to make the most out of it.
1. Establish a goal for GivingTuesday before it begins.
This goal could be anything from how much money you’d like to raise to how many volunteers you’d like to send out into your community to how much participation you’d like to see from your congregation.
Have your church staff sit down to discuss an appropriate goal for your church. Once you’ve established your goal, share it with your congregation. They are just as excited to meet (and even exceed) the goal as you are.
2. Connect GivingTuesday to a Specific Need or Cause in your Church
Share a specific need and goal with your church. This could be a goal that every attendee donates a small amount (say $10) on GivingTuesday to the church. Let your congregation know where they should give. This could be to the General Offering or a donation category within SecureGive dedicated to a specific fund. This is a great way to raise money to launch a new campus, pay off church debt, or support your Christmas initiative.
Here’s the key: make it specific. Let your congregation know that every dollar they give is going to a specific need or cause that will make a difference. Giving usually means making a sacrifice and people want to know that their sacrifice is worth it. This brings us to the next point.
3. Remind people how God can multiply.
Encourage people to give by reminding them what God can do with our gifts.
God cares more about the heart behind our gift than the amount of the gift. Even with our little, God can do a lot. Share stories like the Widow’s Mite in Luke 21:1-4 and Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand in Matthew 14:13-21. Remind your church that God can do more than we can imagine with what we bring to Him.
4. Partner with Community or Parachurch Organizations
Part of doing ministry is finding needs and meeting those needs. Take a close look at what’s going on in your community. Who needs your help? Maybe your local blood bank is running low on supplies. Host a blood drive at the church on GivingTuesday to reduce the shortage.
All of our communities have organizations that are working hard to help people. For many of these organizations, the needs they meet continually rise throughout the holidays. This is a perfect opportunity to restock their shelves and provide more resources that they can in turn send out.
5. Offer multiple ways for people to give.
The Bible tells us that we are to be good stewards of our time, talent, and treasures. We are also instructed to give of these generously and cheerfully to others. So, offer multiple ways for your congregation to give this GivingTuesday.
Consider partnering with a dream center, homeless shelter, or food bank in your community to offer volunteer opportunities. Or, seek out the needs of individuals in your community. There are likely countless wheelchair ramps that need to be built, yards that need to be landscaped, and houses that need to be painted. Money is one way to give, but chances are, you have people in your church well equipped with the skills and time to make a huge impact in your community.
6. Share stories about the impact of GivingTuesday.
If your church has participated in GivingTuesday in the past, share stories of ministry at work with your church. Tell your congregation about how you were able to hand out 100 coats to the homeless or how you were able to raise enough money in one day to pay off the outstanding church debt or how you were able to collect thousands of canned goods to stock the food pantry for six months. Stories and numbers can make a big impact.
If this is the first year participating in GivingTuesday with your church, share stories of the impact other local churches have been able to have or the global impact brought from this day around the world.
7. Highlight Recurring Giving
Let your church know that they don’t have to stop giving. Generosity is not limited to only one day of the year. Encourage your church to set up a recurring gift to keep making an impact in your church and the surrounding community. With SecureGive, creating a recurring transaction is fast, easy, and secure.
8. Post your progress throughout the day.
On GivingTuesday, update your givers on social media as you reach your set goal. Share stories, images, and posts throughout the day updating your attendees about your progress. This will not only be a fun activity for your church to follow along with but it will be a great reminder to give and an easy way to encourage participation.
We are praying over your church and your efforts this GivingTuesday. We pray that God would multiply your work, for radical generosity to be ingrained in your congregation, and for your reach to expand in your community. We can’t wait to hear about the wonderful things your church is able to do for the Kingdom of God and His children this GivingTuesday.
*Information gathered from GivingTuesday’s official website
** Information gathered from GivingTuesday’s 2020 Report
