Our friends at Horizon Stewardship published a great blog on how you can make fourth quarter giving successful for your ministries. Check out the article below.
Non-profit charities receive, on average, 25% of their entire year’s contributions between Thanksgiving and year-end. For most churches, fourth quarter giving, especially in the last six to eight weeks of the year, makes all the difference. What you do between now and the end of the year could enable you to achieve your ministry objectives and begin the New Year with a bang!
HERE ARE FOUR KEY STEPS TO CRUSH YOUR FOURTH QUARTER GIVING
1. PLACE MINISTRY OBJECTIVES FRONT AND CENTER.
Use every tool at your disposal (newsletters, social media, pulpit, website, small groups, etc.) to tell the story of why your ministry matters and is worthy of support. Focus on the big “Why” of what you do rather than the details of your budget.
2. THANK YOUR FINANCIAL LEADERS.
Write to your key financial leaders and let them know of your year-end push. Acknowledge their generosity and let them know you see them as role models of generosity. Invite them to weigh into what you’re trying to accomplish. Use this sample as a template.
3. SEND A LETTER TO THE CONGREGATION.
Let your members know all you have accomplished this past year and that God’s vision has yet to be accomplished. Make giving easy by providing a self-addressed envelope and information about how to give through your website. Use this sample as a template.
4. PUMP UP YOUR OFFERING TIME.
Make the offering a time of worship and reflection. Use the time to tell givers how their gifts are being put to good use. Connect their generosity with your church’s ability to accomplish God’s vision through your church. Express gratitude for support and tell them what ministry objectives you are hoping to accomplish when resources become available. Use this sample offering talk.