More Parishioners
Using Online Giving
We just completed our most recent quarterly review of trends
in contributions based on parishes who use Online Giving from Our Sunday
Visitor. A number of our parish
customers have more than 20% of active parishioners using Online Giving, with
more than a few at or near 50% of parishioners.
Overall we see slightly more ACH (direct withdrawal) used for regular
contributions in comparison to credit card,
(around 55% ACH and 45% Credit Card).
Parishioners are starting to use QuickGive more often for one-time gifts
and these tend to be done via credit card.
Greater Frequency and
Annual Gift Amounts
Parishes who provide parishioners the option to give
contributions recurring weekly and bi-weekly see a larger annual donation from
those parishioners in comparison to contributions recurring twice monthly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Weekly givers are contributing about $1810
annually and bi-weekly givers about $1943 annually. Twice monthly schedules offer fewer
opportunities to give in comparison to bi-weekly, so the annual amount is
lower. Monthly givers donate about $1270
on an annual basis.
Make sure you are providing your parishioners flexibility to
give at any time, so that they can work with their particular income schedules.
And importantly, so they can make a donation when they are moved to contribute.
Parish Experiences
We have asked a number of our parish customers to track
contribution amounts before and after implementing Online Giving. While the vitality of the parish and the
programs and depth of commitment to Stewardship all impact the parish financial
results, they are also willing to say
that Online Giving has had a positive impact on the financial health of the
parish. Those parishes who looked
specifically a credit card and direct payment gifts documented increases of
from 32% to 63% in the amount of the specific parishioner gifts. Those parishes who looked at overall total
contributions saw an increase of from 11% to 32%. And parish staff is quick to point out that
the cash flow during vacation months has smoothed out and in at least one case
the Pastor states that “it has saved the parish”.
Envelopes Continue to
Play A Key Role
The significant majority of parishes have continued to use
envelopes to reach parishioners on a regular basis. They have used new designs for their
envelopes to focus more on commitment to prayer and time at the parish for
parishioners who contribute electronically.
The combination of envelopes and Online Giving has been powerful. See the graphic below that shows actual
parish results:
We continue to work with parishes to help them make the best
use of all the tools available to them.
Online Giving has had a positive impact!
Tell us about your experience.
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