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Proven Strategies to Boost Church Giving and Build Generosity

Proven Strategies to Boost Church Giving and Build Generosity

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Proven Strategies to Boost Church Giving and Build Generosity” is a guest post by Dr. Don McCaig, who serves as a church consultant, leadership trainer, and financial planner. You can learn more about him below. To submit a guest post for consideration, learn more here.

While topics like church giving can be controversial, we share articles on Lead412.com expressing different views from various authors and encourage you to take them into consideration as you build your church’s strategy for encouraging biblical stewardship.



Did you know the average church member in the U.S. gives just $2,848 per year? For many churches, that’s not enough to sustain ministry efforts or plan for the future.

Every church faces the challenge of balancing spiritual growth with financial stewardship. But what if you could cultivate a culture of generosity in your congregation that not only meets financial needs but inspires deeper discipleship?

Here’s how to make it happen.

Why Numbers Matter: Know Your Church’s Financial Health

Just as you wouldn’t tell a mechanic your car is “making a funny noise” without details, you can’t simply say, “The church needs more money.” To be effective, you must answer key questions like, “How much money do we need?”

Before launching a giving campaign, church leadership must gather crucial financial data. Without these numbers, efforts will amount to guesswork. Here’s what you need:

  • Who is giving and who is not?
  • How much is each member giving?
  • What is the average giving per member?

Financial contributions are a core responsibility of church membership. Prayer and time are vital, but they do not replace financial support. If members are unaware of this expectation, they must be informed.

The purpose of tracking giving isn’t to judge or compare lifestyles but to identify consistency. Awareness is key. Leadership must also know who the major givers are. While every sheep is equally valuable to the shepherd, the steward must understand who sustains the church financially.

For context, the national average annual church giving per member is approximately $2,848. This figure may vary by region and demographics; for example, it is likely higher in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Calculate your church’s average by dividing total annual giving by the number of members. Track this figure alongside the total giving amount to maintain financial awareness.

Preaching Beyond the Offering Plate: Teaching Financial Stewardship

Preachers must teach about financial stewardship from the pulpit. Three common reasons people don’t tithe are:

  1. They know they should but lack discipline.
  2. Financial strain prevents them from including tithing in their budget.
  3. They don’t know they’re supposed to give.

Teaching can address all three issues by highlighting the spiritual principles of financial stewardship. Money is one of the most frequently discussed topics in Scripture, particularly in the New Testament. Avoiding it is equivalent to neglecting substantial portions of God’s Word.

Many pastors feel uncomfortable preaching about money because they equate giving with their paycheck or church expenses. This perspective is shallow.

Giving is a spiritual discipline established by God to fund ministry and demonstrate faith. Preachers should frame discussions about giving as opportunities for spiritual growth, not as church budget requirements.

Practical Tip: Create a sermon series on financial discipleship. Topics like debt, savings, and generosity are all scripturally grounded and highly relevant.

The Power of a 90-Day Tithing Challenge

For many Christians, tithing requires significant faith. A 90-Day Tithing Challenge can help ease new givers into this discipline. Based on Malachi 3, where God invites His people to test Him in the tithe, this challenge allows members to experience God’s faithfulness firsthand.

How It Works:

  1. Challenge Presentation: After teaching on tithing, invite members to participate in the challenge. Offer this promise: “If you don’t believe God has kept His promise to provide for you after 90 days, you can request a refund—no questions asked.”
  2. Tracking Agreement: Participants sign a simple agreement to track their giving. Acceptable methods include cash in envelopes, checks, or online giving.
  3. Conditions: Refunds apply only to tracked giving during the 90-day period and must be requested within two weeks of its conclusion.

Encourage consistent givers to participate by increasing their commitment, setting up direct deposits, or sharing testimonies. The goal is for everyone in the church to grow in generosity together.

Celebrating Generosity: Building a Culture of Giving

What gets celebrated gets repeated. To foster a culture of generosity, celebrate giving regularly:

  • Share testimonies of God’s provision in members’ lives.
  • Highlight how church resources are advancing the Kingdom.
  • Look to biblical examples, such as the widow’s offering or Barnabas’ generosity.

At year’s end, honor top givers. Depending on your church’s size, this could be the top 10 givers or the top 10%. Send them a special gift like a book or plaque, and invite them to a dessert meeting to share the church’s vision for the coming year. This private acknowledgment reinforces their importance to the ministry and may inspire further generosity.

Addressing Concerns: If others feel left out, address it graciously: “This event is meant to honor those who gave exceptionally as a way to encourage all members to grow in generosity.”

End-of-Year Special Giving: A Final Push

A special end-of-year giving campaign can generate excitement and meet immediate financial needs. Select a project that aligns with your church’s values, such as missions, a pregnancy center, or a food bank. For example:

“This December, we’re launching a special giving campaign. Twenty percent of all contributions will go to the Pregnancy Crisis Center to support mothers in need. Let’s come together to make a difference.”

Encourage members to give above their regular tithe. Promote the campaign for several weeks and celebrate its impact.

Tips for Success

  • Believe in the Message: If you don’t believe tithing benefits your congregation, neither will they. Preach confidently and biblically.
  • Address Concerns: Acknowledge discomfort around giving messages but differentiate biblical teaching from prosperity gospel manipulation. Encourage cheerful giving without pressure.
  • Simplify Giving: Offer easy, trustworthy options for online and in-person giving. A complicated or unprofessional platform deters generosity.

By implementing these strategies, your church can cultivate a culture of faithful giving, ensuring both spiritual and financial growth. Are you ready to start transforming generosity in your church? Begin by reviewing your financial data and planning your first sermon series on stewardship.


Dr. Don McCaig is a church consultant, leadership trainer, and financial planner with nearly two decades of pastoral experience. He holds advanced degrees in theology, preaching, and leadership and is dedicated to equipping Christian leaders to grow spiritually and lead with excellence in their ministries.  

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