Labor Day, the traditional end of summer, is just days away. Three-day holiday weekends like Labor Day have always been a challenge for churches. Our congregations often spend these weekends at the lake, beach, or ball game, significantly dropping attendance, engagement, and giving. This trend repeats year after year, posing a significant and urgent challenge for churches. The crucial question for church leaders is how to tackle this issue. We have the solution!
When I was a pastor, the only way to compensate for people missing the passing of the offering plate was to mail them a letter asking for a donation. You might have made up some of the lost ground from a three-day weekend if you included a postage-paid envelope for donors to mail their checks. That strategy, while still effective, was limited in impact. But, back then, it was the only way to make up for a three-day holiday weekend. Now, with a robust online giving portal, your offering plate can stay open 24/7/365! We provide you with a dozen-plus giving options to put in your toolbox for your donors to use, ensuring a seamless and effective giving experience.
Last year, I purchased a new battery-powered lawn mower. I love not having to keep up with having gasoline on hand. I just put in the batteries, and off I go. While my new mower works well, it doesn't work without me starting it up and pushing it around my yard. Like all my tools, it takes my getting them out and using them before they work. The same is true of an online giving platform; it works best when you use the tools.
The same can be said for the tools we provide to our partners. We provide the tools, and we also provide instructions on how to utilize them. We provide the best customer support in the industry, getting you the help you need fast. While we give you the technical support needed, we also give you practical advice on using those tools to serve your church. To that end, here is my advice for solving any decline in any three-day holiday offering.
My first advice is to avoid it altogether. How? By continually encouraging your members and donors to make their giving recurring. Recurring giving will ensure that even if your members are at Disneyland, their offering goes into the “proverbial plate” instead of in Mickey’s hands. Neither rain, sleet, or snow will stop recurring giving.
Next, I recommend sending an email blast appealing to members. It should be two to three paragraphs with only three to four sentences in the text. I also recommend multiple clickable links to your giving page. Finally, I recommend a PS stating, “Did you know you can set up your giving to be automatic? Find out how at YourChurch.org/recurringgiving.” I encourage church leaders to send at least one email a few days before the holiday weekend starts. I also found great results in sending out an appeal email on the day of the holiday.
With so many people owning smartphones, it pays to send a text message. Our platform makes this easy, connecting people wherever they are this holiday weekend. Making giving quick and easy makes it more likely that people will give, even during a three-day holiday weekend. I have found great results in texting out a compelling message on the Sunday of the three-day holiday weekend. No matter where your donors are in the world, OnlineGiving.org can help you connect them to your message.
At OnlineGiving.org, we provide our church partners with the latest technology and tools to help them overcome the challenges of the three-day weekend. With our platform, tools, and coaching, you will never miss an offering again. Contact us today to learn more about mastering the challenge of a three-day weekend at (615) 206-4000 or email us at support@onlinegiving.org.
The Stewardship Coach
Labor Day, the traditional end of summer, is just days away. Three-day holiday weekends are often enjoyed at the lake, beach, or ball game, significantly reducing church engagement and giving. Do you have a strategy for holiday weekends?https://t.co/DVTf7ZCyrX pic.twitter.com/qr2XjOZKa0
— Online Giving (@onlinegivingorg) August 29, 2024
