Electronic giving Rev. Jeff Taylor, President Kim Matthews, Vice - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Electronic giving Rev. Jeff Taylor, President Kim Matthews, Vice President 1

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Why encourage e-giving? • Fewer people are using cash or checks to make purchases. • They do not have cash or checks with them. • Current reality: stay at home orders. 3

Why Bother? • E-givers give 33% more than traditional givers • Non-profit recurring donors give 42% more (from a Network for Good study) • 40% of e-givers attend Bible study compared to 35% of traditional givers • 26% of e-givers attend Sunday School compared to 18% of traditional givers 4

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Obstacles to overcome We’ve never done it that way before • Churches have always had to adapt in order to bring people to Christ • Start a movement 6

Obstacles to overcome We have it on the website and no one uses it • Intentional promotion is key • Leadership should utilize the tool 7

Obstacles to overcome It’s too expensive • Costs associated with all giving methods • Cost of doing business • Increased giving covers the cost • Helps givers be more faithful in giving • Donors can cover costs Ultimately: What is the cost of not offering electronic giving? 8

Obstacles to overcome Why can’t they just write a check? • Not everyone uses checks • In times of physical distancing, asking people to write and mail a check is less immediate than an online gift made during worship. 9

Obstacles to overcome Our congregation isn’t computer savvy. • There are ways to do online giving if congregation doesn’t have internet • Our assumptions may be incorrect  60% of adults over 65 use the internet  75% of adults over 65 use cell phones  40% of seniors pay bills online 10

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Ways to Give Electronically Bill pay • Donor establishes payment through bank. • Can be a check that is mailed to the church • Can be an e-check that is deposited in church’s account • Ask people to consider the option; train staff. 12

Ways to Give Electronically ACH (Automated Clearing House) • A fully digital method of depositing or withdrawing money from an account • Requires simple forms with bank and with church • Church automatically deducts the donor specified amount from the donor’s account on a recurring basis. • Low Cost option • Contact your bank to start 13

Ways to Give Electronically Credit or debit card transactions • To accept credit or debit cards, you will need an outside vendor • Debit cards have lower fees than credit cards • Vendors can do ACH withdrawals, debit card payments, and credit card payments • Work with vendor to establish good donor report system 14

Ways to Give Electronically Text to give • Requires an outside vendor – your credit/debit card vendor can do it • Donor texts a dollar amount to a designated number and supplies payment information. 15

Ways to Give Electronically Social media fundraising • Project orientated • No fee to charity • Examine if donor information is sufficient for your church 16

Ways to Give Electronically QR codes • A free and simple way to direct people to a web site through a print publication • Create QR code with a QR code generator • Donors can scan the code with their phone and be directed to your giving webpage. 17

Ways to Give Electronically Card reader for smartphone or tablet • Donor swipes debit or credit card to make a donation • Useful for in-person worship or other church activities • Requires outside vendor 18 4

Ways to Give Electronically Kiosk • Physical station in your church building that provides a digital portal for your website, giving, event registration. • Limitation – when the church is closed, the kiosk is closed, and only one person can give at a time. • Requires a vendor, and there is a high cost. 19

Recurring Giving • Promote recurring giving as a preferred method of giving • Regular, periodic (usually weekly or monthly) intervals • Automatic once it is set up; continues until the donor changes it 20

Prepare the Leadership and Staff • Compare actual costs and benefits • Tracking online gifts • Open, transparent conversations about generosity — money is not a secret 21

Encourage E-giving • Leadership needs to do it – pastor and church leadership does it first • Ask people to use it, explaining how it will help the church • Help people understand how to use it • Consider offering a way for donors to give gifts to cover transaction fees. • E-giving is not temporary only for this time of crisis – we are establishing this tool for the long run 22

The Offering Time in Worship • Have an offering during worship • Begin with an “offering talk” • Provide the opportunity to give with instructions on screen and in your “e - bulletin” • Offering is worship • Provide meaningful ways to participating in offering during worship 23

Contact us Rev. Jeff Taylor, President  jefftaylor@umfwv.org Kim Matthews, Vice President  kimmatthews@umfwv.org 304-342-2113 www.umfwv.org  www.facebook.com/umfwv P.O. Box 3811 Charleston, WV 25338 24