Every church in the modern world is going to face a decision about online tithing or online donation services. Fewer people have cash in their pockets, as credit cards and mobile payments are common, and here to stay.
Many church members find it preferable and more convenient to give tithes and offerings online. The good news is that you don’t need to have an internal tech team or even sophisticated tech capabilities to activate online giving services.
That said, there are best practices when it comes to receiving, managing, and getting the most out of donations made over the internet.
The team at Kindrid has put this article together to help your church leadership team or finance team learn how to receive church donations online.
How do Online Donations Improve Church Giving?
Many people who attend church regularly believe that supporting their home church with donations and tithes is the right thing to do. Adult churchgoers of all life phases strive to give a percentage of their monthly income to their church, as it’s an ideal biblical lifestyle. When churches accept giving online, they see an average 32% increase in these overall donations.
As of 2018, about 74% of U.S. churches have adopted online giving. This is especially relevant for churches with large populations of families and young adults. Millennials today feel a desire to donate to charities and causes at higher rates than older generations. According to the Millennial Impact Report, 84% of adults ages 25 to 40 claimed they prefer donating through online platforms.
A church that doesn’t accept online payments is a church that is truly missing out on opportunities to grow. Since churches thrive based on the generosity of their attendees, to limit the giving methods is to limit gestures that reflect a heart of obedience.
With online giving solutions, thousands of churches and ministries have been able to further spread the message of God in their communities. When people give more to the church, it allows its ministries to give more resources to people and the world.
Digital giving makes it possible for churches to worry less about managing donations and focus more on ministry.
Online Giving Tools for Churches
There are plenty of methods to collect church offerings in the present day. Here are some of the most popular options.
Church Tithing Apps
Tithing apps such as Kindrid, easyTithe, and Pushpay are favored giving apps that church members find useful. These secure mobile apps are used by churches of all sizes, from small local gatherings to large megachurches.
Giving apps allow:
- Churchgoers to set up recurring donations
- Donations to be made by credit card or digital transfer
- Receipt notifications for app users
- Quick, secure, and simple giving
Text-to-Give
Another method for receiving donations online is through text messaging. This is an ideal option for visitors, individuals who wish to make a one-time donation, or anyone who wants to give to a special cause or service.
A person texts a word, such as “give”, to the designated phone number. In reply, they get a link to an online page where they fill out their payment information and can send it within seconds.
Non-Profit Online Giving Site Options
Some churches use standard money exchange platforms or apps, such as Zelle, Venmo, or other banking services. This is an easy and generally well-known method of exchanging monetary gifts. However, the downsides are that there are potential security risks, the platforms aren’t designed specifically for churches, and there is no way of setting up personalized tracking for your church ministries.
A Website Giving Page
Any church with a website can have an online giving page. Tithes can be made directly through your website via the payment software your site allows. These are great because they are personalized, but it does take some maintenance from tech support specific to your church staff.
For many online giving software solutions, landing pages are part of the package. This can be an easy way to not have to manage coding or infrastructure, and still get all of the benefits of a website giving page.
Kiosks
In-person kiosks are available for church locations, which have the capacity to receive digital tithes. These machines are a blessing for many churches, because they facilitate numerous additional functions, such as signing in to volunteer, typing in prayer requests, or registering for upcoming events without having to fill out paper forms.
Integrated Online Giving Platforms
Perhaps the most seamless, donor-friendly method of receiving church donations online is when churches implement a full online giving platform. Streamlined giving software accepts various online donation methods and can integrate with church management software.
Online giving platforms offer:
- Digital tithe management
- Credit, debit, and ACH bank account transfer
- Minimal transaction processing fees
- Customer support
- Mobile giving (apps or text messages)
- Automatic, recurring giving options
- Customizable gift settings
- User privacy
- Event registration (depending on the platform)
- Donation to specific ministries (depending on the platform)
- Leadership management and church tithe tracking
What is the Best Way to Accept Church Donations Online?
If a church isn’t large, well-established, or ultra-modern, it’s easy to opt out of online donations. Respectfully, that may be a missed opportunity. With plenty of support to set it up and get it running, any church can benefit from using a digital giving platform. It’s a powerful way to, encourage biblical money practices and provide a valuable resource both for members who are in-person and attending remote services.
If your church is looking to introduce or switch to an online platform that receives donations, we believe a full platform designed for churches is the most trustworthy option. Plan a leadership meeting to discuss what your church’s needs are when searching for a digital giving solution. From there, you can research the platforms that are available and already loved by churches around the world.
