It’s a weird year to ask for money. Or maybe it just feels that way. 

Inflation, skyrocketing interest rates, a volatile market, and other economic woes can make it feel uncomfortable to do an end-of-year giving push. 

Here’s the good news: Historically, giving always increases–even during recessions. Here’s the other good news–in fact, the better news. It’s always more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Even not-yet followers of Christ understand this concept. Giving has a way of making us feel happier, healthier, and even more free. 

For churches, the Christmas season is a significant time for giving for both practical and spiritual reasons. End-of-year budget needs and tax season write-offs make December a logical time to give. But as nearly every Christmas movie will remind you, there’s also something special about this season in terms of giving. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we are more likely to look to the needs of others. 

This December, don’t miss out on the opportunity to build a culture of giving during the most generous season of the year. Here are 7 ideas for an end-of-year giving campaign that really works. 

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7 Steps to an End-of-Year Giving Campaign 

To run a successful end-of-year giving campaign, you’ll need to communicate with your church family across multiple channels. You’ll also need to be very explicit: You’re asking for their financial support, and for them to go above and beyond their usual tithes and offerings. 

Here are 7 steps to help you effectively engage your church family in year-end giving.

Step 1: Set a year-end giving goal. 

Before you create regular communications, set a year-end giving goal. While you can start with your budget, don’t hesitate to go above and beyond what your practical needs are–dream with God and ask Him for a number in faith. 

Step 2: Name the campaign. 

Naming your year-end giving campaign makes it memorable and catchy. I go to a church in San Diego that named their year-end giving campaign “Crazy Christmas Offering.” This was a fun, lighthearted way to help church members remember the campaign and to emphasize the power of radical giving during the most generous time of the year. 

Step 3: Send a year-end email campaign. 

The first step to a successful email campaign is an organized database of contacts. When your contacts are grouped together and tagged according to categories like family unit or giving status, it will make it much easier to send strategic emails to regular givers, occasional givers, and not-yet givers. 

Then, you’ll want to set up a two-part email campaign. The first email acknowledges and details the power of financial contributions. The second email reminds church members of your year-end giving goal. Both emails provide opportunities for recipients to give. 

Here are two templates you can use as a starting point for your own year-end email campaign. 

Email 1: Year-End Giving Launch 

Subject: Make Your Giving Count in 2022 

Preview text: Support [your church’s name] with a year-end gift. 

Timing: Early the week of December 12 

Dear [first name], 

It should go without saying that we could not have made it through this year without your generosity. You stepped up and supported this church, and we are  forever grateful. 

Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to: 

• Baptize ## new believers 

• Welcome ## new church members 

• Give $### back to our community 

• Support ## missionaries around the world 

• [Insert other examples of the work your church has done this year] 

But the year is not over, yet. There is still time for you to make an impact. That said, we kindly invite you to make one final donation this year. 

By participating in our 2022 year-end giving campaign, you will help in supporting [share a vision here for what the funds raised will go toward this year.] 

If you are ready to make a year-end donation, click here for information about online giving and other ways to donate. [Insert link to the year-end giving landing page on your church’s website.] 

Thank you for your generosity!

Sincerely, 

[Senior pastor’s name] 

P.S. Have any questions about giving or what your money goes to support? Respond to 

this email and we will answer them directly! We want to hear from you. 

Email 2: Year-End Giving Reminder 

Subject: Don’t Forget—There Is Still Time for a Year-End Gift 

Preview text: Help [your church’s name] make an impact in 2023. 

Timing: Mid-to-late week of December 26 

Dear [first name], 

Because of your giving in 2022, we were able to spread the word of God when it mattered most.  

‍And we are already making big plans for 2023.  

We know that the future isn’t always certain, but here is what we’re hoping to do in the next year at our church: [Share a vision for next year and how end-of-year giving will make that a possibility.] 

If you feel called to be a part of this goal, we invite you to participate in our year-end giving campaign.  

‍Our hope is that your donation will help propel us forward into an even better year in 2023.  

Click here to access all of the different ways to give. [insert landing page link] 

Thank you for your generosity and we wish you and your family a Happy New Year! 

Sincerely, 

[Senior pastor’s  name] 

P.S. If you ever have any questions about giving or the church in general, reply to this email and we’ll be sure to get back to you. We are here for you!

These are just a couple of ideas that can help you get started on an email campaign. However you choose to craft your messages, Tithe.ly Messaging has everything you need to create beautiful, drag-and-drop emails that make this step simple. 

Step 4: Create a follow-up text messaging campaign. 

Following up your email campaign with a text message campaign can solidify your email outreach and potentially reach church members who may not open your email (such as younger church members). 

Here are three ideas for text messages you can send to increase year-end giving. 

• Thank you for your generosity towards our church during 2022! Want to make another end-of-year gift? Go to this link: [insert link here]. Character count: 132 

• There is still time to make a year-end donation to [your church’s name] this year! Click here to make a big impact in 2022: [insert link here]. Character count: 132 

• Ready to be a part of our church’s plan for better things in 2023? Check this out for more on our vision: [insert link here]. Character count: 124 

Or, here are a few ideas for push notifications you can send through a church app. 

• Thank you for your generosity towards [your church’s name] in 2022! Finish the year strong with a year-end donation...  Character count: 117 

• Don’t forget to make your final donation of 2022 to [your church’s name]. Doing so will help us in helping others! :) Character count: 113 

• End 2022 on a positive note with a charitable gift to [your church’s name]. Let’s make 2023 even better together! Character count: 113 

Once again, Tithe.ly Messaging can help you quickly and easily send text messages to your entire church family. 

Step 5: Build a landing page. 

Your church most likely has its own website, but a separate landing page just for your year-end giving campaign can act as an endpoint for emails, text messages, and any other communications you send out. 

Here are features to include on your landing page:

• Web address: Provide a URL that is easy to remember and type,  Eg. www.yourchurch.com/2020giving. 

• Donation form: Make it easy to give! Embed a donation form at the top of the page, or drop a button that directs people to a donation form. 

• Other ways to give: If your church has other ways of accepting donations, such as check or cash, be sure to provide details for how donors can give in those ways. 

• Images: Use quality, copyright-appropriate images that complement the purpose of the page. Either use photos you have taken yourself, or stock photos from Unsplash or Pexel (you can also grab stock images from Tithe.ly Media). 

• Reasons to give: Merely asking your church to donate is not effective—you must encourage them by telling them why it’s important to do so. This may include providing some type of data that can show the impact giving had on your church in the past year. 

• User login: If you use a giving software, allow members to create a login and view their giving history quickly and easily. Transparency goes a long way. 

• Mobile friendly: It’s important to ensure your website translates well on different devices. Be sure to test out the landing page on smartphones and tablets, as it’s likely most church members will be viewing your website via a mobile device.

The ultimate goal of your landing page is to compel people to give. When you use a giving tool like Tithe.ly, you make it fast and easy for people to give to your church online. 

Step 6: Talk about giving in a sermon. 

When you talk about giving from the pulpit, you not only ask people to give; you teach them to give. Reminding your church members of the Biblical foundation for generosity will ultimately bless them during the holiday season–in the midst of busyness, festivities, and even financial stress. 

Here are more than 100 scriptures on generosity that you can use as a springboard for a sermon (or sermon series). 

Step 7: Post on social media. 

Finally, don’t forget about talking about your year-end giving campaign on your social media channels. While this won’t be your primary way of driving people to your landing page, it still creates awareness of your campaign, and reminds people to give. 

Tithe.ly Media makes it simple to create quality, customized graphics for your social media channels (plus, it’s free!)

Recap: End-of-Year Giving Campaign  

Here’s a quick recap of the steps you’ll want to take for a stellar year-end campaign. 

1. Set a goal. 
2. Name your campaign. 
3. Send a year-end email campaign. 
4. Create a follow-up text message campaign. 
5. Build a landing page. 
6. Talk about giving in a sermon. 
7. Post on social media. 

And the tools that will make it easy?

1. Tithe.ly Messaging for email and text messages. 
2. Tithe.ly People to organize and tag your contact database
3. Tithe.ly Apps for building a church app and sending push notifications
4. Tithe.ly Sites for creating a beautiful church website + landing pages
5. Tithe.ly Giving for making it simple to give

To take a deeper dive into building an end-of-year giving campaign, click here to download The Year-End Giving Playbook.

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