Do Church Members Give More Frequently Over the Holidays?

Most people in ministry or the nonprofit sector may believe that giving fluctuates significantly throughout the year. 

People give more frequently in December.

People don’t give as much during the summer months. 

But are those assumptions actually true?  

That is, do people actually give more in December…and less in July and August? 

We looked at giving data from over 37,000 churches and an entire year of giving (2022) to find answers. 

What we found surprised–and encouraged–us. 

Keep reading to learn more. 

Giving Frequency Stays Steady Throughout the Year

To better understand giving throughout the year, we looked at billions of dollars that were given to churches in 2022. Keep in mind that these gifts were given through Tithely–meaning that donors were utilizing an online giving platform that’s super simple to use. 

In examining the data, we looked at when these gifts were given and how much they represented. 

Here’s what we found…

It is true that people give bigger gifts in December than during other months.

However, the number of gifts stays pretty steady throughout the year. 

From January through December, people tend to give the same amount of times, and roughly the same amount, every month (with December being the exception). 

The lesson? Church members are committed to giving throughout the year…and are always more likely to give generously in December. 

Finally, we hear that churches experience a “Summer Slump” and see giving decrease as families go on vacation and Sunday attendance decreases. 

However, the data does not seem to support that–not at least for churches who offer digital giving and recurring giving options (like Tithely customers!)

3 Takeaways for Churches

So, what can churches learn from all of this data? 

• Stay consistent with your fundraising efforts–your church members will continue to give (even when they’re on vacation!)
• Leverage December for your end-of-year giving campaign–your church members aren’t likely to give more gifts around Christmas, but they’re still likely to give bigger gifts.
• Use online giving to make giving simple and easy throughout the year! Online giving also makes it possible to give recurring gifts that don’t stop when church members are out of town or busy. 

Finally, keep talking about generosity! Churches that teach sermon series on giving, teach people how to give online, and encourage recurring giving are more likely to build a healthy culture of generosity. 

All Your Questions About Generosity, Answered

If you’re anything like we are, then you might be asking questions about other giving trends in the church. 

 In our 2023 State of Giving ebook, you’ll learn the answers to questions like:

• How much are donors really giving online?
• Are churches seeing an increase in giving, despite economic uncertainty?
• Do church members really give more on Sunday? 
• Are church leaders worried about their financial future?
• And much more….

To download the 2023 State of Giving ebook, click here.