5 reasons why more parishes are switching to online giving

More parishes today are expanding their donor base by providing simple solutions for online giving to their members. Now you can too!

For years, the traditional check or cash in a weekly offertory envelope has been the preferred method of giving in parishes across the country. However, most recently, we’ve witnessed a significant increase in online giving, which has positively impacted parishes facing financial hardship while helping others simply boost their weekly offertory during slower months.

While there are plenty of excuses (and we’ve heard our fair share!) why a parish may decide against introducing online giving, here are a few advantages to consider and the immediate benefits you might be overlooking. 

Benefit #1: It saves your parish staff loads of time and resources

With parishes understaffed and stretched beyond their limits, online giving offers some welcomed relief by reducing the time spent each week counting offertories, manually entering contributions into the church management software (ChMS), and managing secure bank deposits. Instead, with online payment processing, you can bypass the time-consuming work while reaping all the benefits as funds flow straight into your account. (See, your bookkeeper is already smiling!)
 

Benefit #2: Offers flexibility and helps expand your donor base 

Introducing online giving in your parish is not only convenient but a courtesy you can extend to your donors by providing additional giving options. Don’t worry! We’re not telling you to stop accepting donations by cash or check. Still, with the added convenience of online giving, you can instantly expand your donor base and reach a new generation of Catholics already in the habit of giving digitally. 

According to a recent report on giving trends, donors who set up recurring donations online give 42% more annually, with 25% of those contributions made from a mobile device. Yep, you heard that right! While it hasn’t entirely replaced the “envelope system,” you can see why parishes are joining the great migration to an online giving experience while enjoying all the rewards.

  

Benefit #3: Improves timeliness of giving

No more forgetting the offertory envelope at home or in the car, which can often disrupt budget forecasts and delay the arrival of online gifts to your account. With online giving now an option, donors can “set-it-and-forget-it” so funds can be deducted from their account for single or recurring contributions on a weekly or monthly basis. How easy can this get?!

Benefit #4: Increases generosity among donors

Since online giving is easy and hassle-free, people are often likely to give more. You might be wondering, how is that possible? In fact, churches that accept tithing online have experienced an increase in overall contributions by 32%. 

Keep in mind, too, with end-of-the-year spikes in giving often occurring around the holidays – especially on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving (#GivingTuesday) and Christmas – parishes have an opportunity to significantly increase their offertory. By simply adding the option to give online on your eCatholic-powered website, you’ll give generous benefactors a reason to put the joy in cheerful giving once again.

Benefit #5: Makes budgeting and reporting easier

The beauty of online giving is that it makes parish budgeting more predictable. With funds automatically deposited into your account each week, you can eliminate the guesswork and take care of monthly expenses in a timely manner. Reports and end-of-year statements can also be sent at the push of a button making charitable tax deductions easier to track, keeping bookkeepers happy and parishioners can quickly see the good work their contributions have made throughout the year.

With those same year-end reports, you might as well generate mailing labels for all the ‘thank you’ letters you’ll be sending to your generous donors. With the help of small conveniences like online giving, it never hurts to acknowledge those blessings with a note of gratitude.

What advantages or benefits have you experienced since implementing online giving in your parish? Are you still on the fence or not sure how to get started? We want to hear from you! Tell us more by leaving your feedback in the comments section below or reach out to a friendly eCatholic team member who will be happy to answer all of your questions.