TL;DR:
Thanking first-time donors within 48 hours increases the chance they'll give again by 400%. Easter brings many new givers—don't miss the opportunity to follow up with gratitude. A simple, timely thank-you can turn a one-time gift into lasting generosity.
The 48-Hour Window of Gratitude
“Research has shown that first-time donors who receive a personal thank-you within 48 hours are four times more likely to give again. Yes, thanking in 48 hours equals a 400 percent improvement in renewal rates.”
— Tom Ahern, What Donors Want… and Why 1.
This Easter, churches will be packed, spirits will be lifted, and the Gospel will be proclaimed boldly. And yes—generosity will surge with the crowd size. But what happens after the music fades and the lilies are cleared from the stage?
Too often, the offering plate gets counted, and then… silence. No follow-up. No “thank you.” There is no connection between the giver’s generosity and the ministry it helped fuel. That’s not just a missed opportunity—it’s poor stewardship.
If we want to build lasting generosity, we must recognize that what happens after the gift is just as important as the gift itself. Your stewardship work begins the day after Easter. It starts by showing gratitude for the gifts given on Easter.
Why Gratitude Matters More Than You Think
Easter is one of the few Sundays when visitors, occasional attendees, and even skeptics walk through the doors. That means your offering may include a high percentage of first-time donors—people who felt moved to give but have no real connection to your church.
If you don’t follow up with a thank-you, you’ve likely lost them for good.
On the other hand, if you promptly reach out with a personalized, heartfelt message that connects their gift to the Kingdom impact it made, you open the door to a deeper relationship.
How Gratitude Builds the Bridge to the Next Gift
Saying thank you builds a platform upon which to ask for further gifts. Simply showing gratitude with a simple, prompt thank-you can increase the likelihood of future giving by 400%.
We can argue theology all day—should we thank people for doing what they “ought to do”? Sure, Christians should give out of obedience. But that doesn’t negate the importance of showing appreciation.
You build a bridge to the next gift by showing gratitude for the first gift.
What Gratitude Says About Your Church
A well-timed thank-you after Easter doesn’t just increase the likelihood of repeat giving—it distinguishes you as a church that values its people. And in today’s impersonal, digital world, that matters more than ever.
Churches often think they’re competing with other churches for attention. Not really. You’re competing with silence. Most churches do nothing to follow up after a gift. That means doing even a little puts you ahead.
Donors are not numbers. They are people with stories, struggles, and spiritual journeys. When they give, even once, they are partnering with you. How you respond shapes whether they ever step back in again.
Gratitude Helps Prevent the Revolving Door
Every church has a revolving door. Typically, 10% to 20% of church donors quietly vanish yearly. They don’t leave angry. They don’t protest. They just drift away.
What’s one of the easiest ways to stop the drift?
Express gratitude with consistent thank-yous.
A consistent year-round gratitude plan is one of the best donor retention tools available. It costs almost nothing, takes minimal time, but yields maximum return. Gratitude is a habit worth building.
Use Your Receipts to Express Gratitude
One of the most overlooked stewardship tools is the email receipt. At OG, we’ve found that up to 80% of donors open their receipts—far higher than most church emails.
Why not use that moment to connect?
Instead of a generic “Thank you for your gift,” try something like:
“Because of your generosity, we welcomed 1,300 people to our Easter services—and 48 of them made first-time professions of faith. Thank you for being a part of their story.”
Or:
“Thanks to your giving, our Easter outreach reached every apartment in a 5-mile radius. That’s hundreds of homes touched with the good news. We’re grateful for your partnership.”
These messages remind the giver:
My gift mattered. My gift made an impact. I want to give again.
Final Word: Don’t Let the Opportunity Pass
Easter is a mountain-top moment. But mountain tops are meant to give us vision, not stagnation.
If you want to move people from emotional giving to consistent generosity, the window right after Easter is your moment. Don’t waste it. Follow up, say thank you, show them the power of their gift, and help them connect the dots between generosity and gospel impact.
Because when gratitude flows, generosity grows.
Call us at (615) 206-4000 or email support@onlinegiving.org to get started growing generosity.
The Stewardship Coach
You've got 48 hours after Easter to say thank you—and it could boost repeat giving by 400%!
— Online Giving (@onlinegivingorg) April 17, 2025
Don't miss the moment. Gratitude grows generosity.https://t.co/nO4V7I7aV3 pic.twitter.com/B5rIyJZ89c
