Inviting participation

Some people think of stewardship primarily as managing money well. However, stewardship also encompasses a spirit of generosity that shapes and expands how we share God’s love. As church leaders, we help shape disciples’ understanding of how to respond generously to the generous God we serve.

There is also a practical reality for churches. There are more than 1.8 million non-profit organizations in the United States, most of which have staff time allocated to raising money for their organization. By contrast, churches have often taken an “if we build it, they will come” approach to encouraging generosity. We think that if we have an offering as part of our service, people will fill the basket as it goes by. But that doesn’t just happen. One ministry leader has said, “There are two ways to raise money. One way is to ask. The other is to not ask. The first way is more effective.”

When we consider an invitation to generosity, there are at three aspects to consider:

First, what are the discipleship issues involved? Do we see generosity as a spiritual practice to be nurtured in our congregation?

Second, do we offer a compelling reason to give? People are not typically motivated to give in order to “balance the budget.” Instead, have we articulated our congregation’s mission in such a way that people are drawn to living out God’s vision as a community?

Third, are we providing people with the tools to give in the most efficient way possible? Are we familiar with the three pockets of giving? Do we know the low-hanging fruit of planned giving strategies?

As stewardship leaders, one of our roles is to intentionally shape our invitation to generosity as a call to help people grow in discipleship.

Tips for inviting participation

• Consider an invitation to giving as a call to discipleship: “The Bible talks a lot about stewardship, and it talks very little about the need for an institution to get its bills paid,” says Charles R. Lane in “Ask, Thank, Tell.” Encourage generosity as a spiritual practice rather than as a strategy for paying the bills.
• Encourage a “live the vision” mindset in your congregation. Let people know how lives are being affected by their generosity and why their gift makes a difference in the world. A narrative budget can be a helpful way of connecting peoples’ generosity to the call and purpose of the church.
• Be specific. In addition to giving to your general budget, many people like giving to specific projects. Provide information about special opportunities, whether it is your endowment, a facility need or a particular ministry or mission.
• Target your giving invitations. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to generosity. Each household’s situation is different, and it is appropriate to tailor your invitations accordingly. For example, send a specific invitation to those over age 70½, encouraging them to make Qualified Charitable Distributions from their retirement accounts. Make sure farmers know the benefits of giving farm commodities. Newer attenders in a church often begin their generosity by giving to a specific project.
• Ensure that people are aware of tools that can extend their generosity. People don’t give primarily because of the tax benefits, but tax benefits can often help them give more than they otherwise thought possible. Encourage generosity from “three pockets of giving” – their regular giving, their accumulated assets and their estate.

Ways to invite people to participate in giving

• Electronic giving: People of all ages are conducting more and more of their financial transactions online. According to the data collected in the 2026 Stewardship Ministry Assessment Tool, 78% of churches who responded receive digital gifts in some way.

• Encourage other forms of giving: Sometimes people don’t know the various ways of giving to your church. Here are sample announcements for your bulletin or newsletter. Consider rotating through them a few times a year.

• For Estate Giving: Have you considered including our congregation in your estate plan as part of your final act of stewardship? Doing so can be as easy as naming the Everence Foundation as a beneficiary in your will, trust or retirement account and having a Charitable Gift Recommendation Form on file with them. Your Everence Financial or Stewardship Consultant can assist you with this and other estate planning considerations.

• For Qualified Charitable Distributions: If you are oven the age of 70½, consider making a gift from your IRA to our congregation through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). With a QCD, you do not receive the taxable income from your IRA and don’t need pay taxes on that amount, allowing you to give a larger amount. A QCD can also fulfill the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirement for those of RMD age.

At Everence, we believe most people want to be generous and give to the people, organizations, and causes that are making a difference in the world. This includes supporting the congregations that faithfully proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel.

As stewardship leaders you have the opportunity to plant seeds and help people live into lives of generosity. Peter L. Steinke once said, “One of the most surprising discoveries I’ve made about healthy congregations is that they develop generous people.” May it be so!