Year-End Giving: How to Encourage Generosity Without Pressure

End-of-year giving is a critical part of your church budget. According to data from Tithe.ly, 11% of all donations to a church come in December. Average financial gifts rose by 21% at the end of the year, too, and the total amount donated is 33% higher than in any other month.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year are when people give the most. That makes it an ideal time for church leaders to encourage generosity without putting pressure on people to donate beyond what God is calling them to give.

We’ve assembled four strategies that can help you strike that balance of low-pressure motivation that financially equips your church for the year ahead while also keeping everyone passionate and invested in your ministry moving forward. 

1. Understand What You’re Asking For

Money isn’t an end in itself. It is a means to an end. That might be obvious to you as a leader, but it isn’t always clear to the people considering giving a December gift to your ministry. If you want someone to scan your QR code or enter a URL to make a donation, you need to tell them what you’re asking for.

This is more than “we want to put a mission trip together to go to Honduras” or “there’s a leak in the women’s bathroom.” Use data from your church budget and roadmap to be specific whenever it makes sense. 

We’re not saying you need to drag down your Sunday service with a 15-minute presentation on your 2026 financial projections. Just take the time to plan ahead and identify the areas where you need financial support the most. Then use a few statistics from those examples to focus your generosity message.

2. Streamline the Giving Process

Nothing stifles generosity like a high-friction giving process. Between 50% and 70% of all online donations are never completed due to donation abandonment. This can come from something as simple as too many donation steps, anxiety over cybersecurity, or a lack of continuity between your message and the donation tool.

If you’re wondering how to increase church giving, one of the simplest options is streamlining the giving process itself. Make sure you have simple, effective, safe giving tools in place. 

These should be easily accessible and have multiple options, like tap-to-give, text-to-give, QR codes, easy online forms, and recurring giving options. And yes, keep passing that bucket. If you reduce friction, accommodate giving preferences, and make sure everything feels safe, you’ll naturally improve the success of each campaign.

3. Be Retrospective

The past can be a great way to inform the present. While you always want a healthy amount of forward-thinking data, planning, and projections, you can also sprinkle in some past wins. Showing past giving impact is a great way to focus on and celebrate ministry impact rather than dollars and cents.

How have year-end gifts tangibly impacted community projects or changed lives in the past? Focus your messaging on positive stories rather than financial goals. Try to weave in personal testimonies of individuals who have found spiritual freedom, personal growth, and key support in other areas of life through your church’s programs.

4. Align Giving With Vision

People care about understanding the “why” behind their gift and seeing how it has impact. One of the best ways to do this is by being open and honest about where their money is going.

Authenticity and transparency are critical elements in church finance. A landmark study by Fidelity Charitable found 81% of donors prioritized “nonprofit transparency and understanding the impact of my giving” as major concerns with personal giving. 

Whenever you can, go beyond the general ask. You don’t need to be specific with the granular details (We’re breaking ground on X building on X date, and it will cost exactly X amount of dollars.) Those nitty-gritty details change too often, and people can get upset down the road if they feel misled by overly detailed promises. Nevertheless, it’s important to show that giving requests are connected to specific projects and that you know where the money is going.

This is an area where understanding the current state of your church building is important. If you know how you want to activate your spaces, you can be specific as you explain your vision for things like adding a child care center or putting up a cafe, and how it will offset building costs, amplify outreach, and help your church have a greater impact in its mission.

Generosity in December: Making the End-of-Year Ask

Generosity is always a focal point in December. People are ready to give, and your church is a top option for potential impact. The challenge is translating that potential into a successful year-end giving campaign.

One common thread in all of these recommendations is data. If you don’t have data, it’s hard to expect donors to support your vision. 

If you’re lacking those tangible, statistical proof points, reach out for a free analysis from Ministry Solutions Group. Our trusted team has managed and funded over $1.4 billion in church projects for over 130 churches across America. Together, we can review your current budget and help you gain clarity before making big decisions and asking people to back them financially.