TL;DR:
Summer giving often dips, but with the right tools and a clear communication plan, your church can thrive. This guide gives you the essential toolkit to keep generosity growing strong all summer long—ensuring your ministries like VBS, camps, and mission trips are fully funded.
Summer Giving Success
Remember the old saying, “April showers bring May flowers”?
Just as gardeners prepare their tools for a season of growth, now is the perfect time for churches to gear up for a financially fruitful summer. Easter may be over, but summer ministry is just beginning—VBS, camps, mission trips, and more are on the horizon, and all of these incredible opportunities require strong funding.
Yet summer giving notoriously dips. Vacations and travel mean fewer in-person services—and fewer gifts.
The good news? With the right tools, your church can reverse that trend.
Welcome to your summer giving toolkit: a practical guide to equipping your church for a season of thriving generosity!
The Power of Vision—and the Right Tools
Your summer vision is what inspires people to give, but even the best vision needs a way to be carried into the hearts of your congregation.
You need a communication plan and the essential tools to launch and support your summer giving strategy effectively.
The Essential Summer Giving Tools
1. A Robust Online Giving Platform
A strong digital giving system is crucial. Here are the key components you need:
- Mobile-Friendly Giving Options
Ensure your donors can give easily from their phones—anytime, anywhere. - Recurring Giving Programs
Encourage automated monthly contributions for predictable, sustained income. - Customizable Giving Pages
Personalize your giving pages with your church’s branding to build trust and ease the giving experience. - Comprehensive Analytics
Use donor behavior and campaign performance data to refine your outreach and engagement strategies. - Effective Communication Channels
Communicate consistently via email, text messaging, and social media to keep generosity top of mind. - Seamless Integration
Choose a provider that integrates easily with your church management system and other platforms.
Good news: OnlineGiving.org meets all of the above—and more!
Using our tools and integrating them into your overall strategy will better position your church to meet and exceed your summer giving goals.
If your current giving provider doesn’t offer a full toolkit of options, it’s time to call us! (615) 206-4000 or support@onlinegiving.org
Let’s equip you with the best harvesting tools available for a financially flourishing summer!
2. A Dynamic, User-Friendly Website
Most people will visit your website long before they step inside your church.
Make sure your site is inviting, up-to-date, mobile-optimized, and includes a clear, easy-to-find giving button.
3. An Active and Engaging Social Media Presence
Many people spend hours each day on social media.
If your church isn’t actively posting updates, testimonies, and giving opportunities, you’re missing powerful connection points.
4. Postage-Paid Envelopes
It may sound old-school, but offering pre-addressed, postage-paid envelopes still works, especially for older or traditional givers.
Plus, with OnlineGiving.org’s check-scanning feature, processing paper gifts is faster and more efficient than ever!
Learn more here.
5. A Comprehensive Donor Database
It’s vital to maintain a database with complete donor contact information—and even better, segment your list into groups (e.g., first-time givers, consistent givers) for targeted communication.
6. A Mass Email Platform
Use tools like Constant Contact or MailChimp to send updates, impact stories, and giving opportunities.
Many services are free or low-cost based on your list size.
7. Offering Talks That Inspire
Each time you collect an offering—whether in person or online—take a moment to connect the giving to the mission.
Update your offering talks regularly to keep them fresh, heartfelt, and vision-centered.
Quick Win Tip!
This week:
- Audit your giving page on your church’s website.
- Is it mobile-friendly?
- Is it easy to find and use?
If not, let’s fix it together! support@onlinegiving.org
Ready to Equip Your Church for a Summer of Impact?
From mobile-friendly giving to targeted communication, OnlineGiving.org’s platform ensures that your Vacation Bible Schools, camps, mission trips, and ministry opportunities are fully funded—while building momentum for year-round generosity.
Don’t wait for the summer slump.
Contact us today to unlock your customized summer giving toolkit: (615) 206-4000 orsupport@onlinegiving.org
Start now—and make this your church’s most fruitful summer yet!
Summer’s coming fast—but your giving doesn’t have to slow down! Equip your church with the right tools to grow generosity all season long.
— Online Giving (@onlinegivingorg) April 28, 2025
Explore the full toolkit here: https://t.co/lbeJVUUJlj pic.twitter.com/AUjdwalNwK
