It seems Christmas gifts and decorations start showing up on shelves sooner every year. As quickly as September rolls around, so do the holiday adornments. And as much as we all want to focus on the true meaning of the season, it’s still challenging not to get caught up in all the consumerism. One great reminder that it is better to give than to receive is GivingTuesday. Falling on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and trailing the money-driven Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday is an incredible moment to practice generosity and give of our time, talent, and treasure.
Churches all over the nation use GivingTuesday as a springboard to inspire a generous heart, get involved in their communities, and serve others. However, there are many churches that miss out on this great opportunity. We are going to discuss the benefits of participating in the generosity-inspired holiday.
What is GivingTuesday?
According to the GivingTuesday website, this is a day designed to encourage people to give back to causes and organizations with the goal of creating a “massive wave of generosity.”
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of radical generosity to transform communities and the world. It is an opportunity for people to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need.
This year, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving falls on November 30th. You have an exciting opportunity as a church to identify a cause (whether in your community or in your church) and create a GivingTuesday strategy that inspires your members to give.
Why Your Church Should Get Involved on GivingTuesday
This event unites people around the world in doing good which makes #GivingTuesday the perfect time to raise donations for a special fund or mission that your church is organizing. It is a simple, non-frictional way to talk about giving because it is a global campaign designed for all types of nonprofits.
1. GivingTuesday Sparks Generosity
Because people are already using technology and social media, they’re very likely to hear about all the hype on #GivingTuesday (which is a good thing!). Their hearts will be more sensitive to generosity because they’ll be seeing all kinds of individuals and organizations participating in the movement.
Your church can use this holiday to springboard generosity in your own congregation. Get involved in the social media activity—use the hashtag: #GivingTuesday and even create your own hashtag that aligns with your church’s cause.
According to the report from GivingTuesday, the average dollar growth percent increased 6.5% in religion-related causes in 2020, while all other causes (e.g., arts, education, environment, and animals, etc.) dropped, except for a substantial increase in human services. This is a key indicator that people desire to support the outreach, missions, and community projects that churches are advocating.
2. People Want to Get Behind Something They Care About
GivingTuesday is an incredible opportunity to be a part of the greater good. Churches often do this in general by helping others and serving the community, but now they can develop or partner with a cause that is bigger than their local church.
Younger generations are increasing their interest in philanthropy. They desire to support activities, organizations, and causes that they care about. Millennials, for example, are actually giving at higher rates and “they believe in their responsibility to create change and are optimistic about their abilities.” Young people are passionate about finding causes that make a difference and activating others to get involved.
Millennials and Gen X spend much of their time on their smartphones, especially using social media. Here is an opportunity to reach them where they’re at and inspire them to partake in your GivingTuesday ministry through their actions and their giving. Plus, online giving makes it even easier for every person to give straight from their phone, tablet, or computer.
3. Community Involvement Fosters Growth and Generosity
Many people view the Church as a special club that you can only participate in under certain criteria within their doors. That’s because a lot of the time, the Church doesn’t go out into the community.
GivingTuesday is an opportunity to break those stereotypes and partner with other organizations in your city. Make your GivingTuesday fund unique from other campaigns you run throughout the year by getting outside the church walls.
Not sure what cause to choose? Reach out to your local mayor’s office, police or fire stations, or other community nonprofits and ask how you can help! This could get more people involved, including those who wouldn’t normally attend church. It will spread awareness about what your church is doing in the community and encourage more acts of generosity.
What’s Next?
Want more ideas to leverage GivingTuesday to maximize generosity in your church? Learn how you can further engage your givers with our FREE GivingTuesday toolkit.