How Goes Stewardship in the USA?

A recent large survey tells us what is working, what is changing, and what is passing from the stewardship scene. There are definite patterns to capitalize upon.  

by Bill Clontz, Stewardship Consultant

While looking through the site Church Tech Today, I recently came across the latest iteration of a periodic survey of churches and church leaders, focused on stewardship trends. There are some interesting points here that are relevant to all of us, regardless of denomination or congregational size.

The study, known as The State of the Plate, was conducted by Brian Kluth, of Maximum Generosity ministry, in partnership with several church technology companies.  Although the conclusions of the survey, which talked with over 1,600 respondents, supports use of the technology these firms market, the general trends they describe ring true; they largely mirror what I see around the country.

Consider the following:

Donation patterns are mixed, and not just by age group:

• 59% of churches surveyed reported flat-lined or decreased giving over the period 2015 to 2016. (A previous survey from 2013 revealed 53% of churches had an increase in giving that year.) 20% had a decline of 5% or more
• Only 41% of churches surveyed saw giving increase by 5% or more
• Generous church giving is not limited to the older generations. 63% of those in their 20s-30s give 10% or more to their church

If You are Connecting Giving Mostly to Attendance, You Likely are Losing Ground

• Only 41% of those surveyed said they give weekly
• 46% give once or twice a month
• 1/3 of members do not attend on any given weekend
• Only 56% of those in their 20 or 30’s attend 90%+ of services
• Only 41% give consistently on a weekly basis to church
• 60% of attendees in their 20-30s give 1-2 times a month, or every few months

Churches have Real Competition for Contributions- And the Competition is Not Shy

• 80% of respondents give regularly to other organizations
• 34% of church goers contribute to five to 4 or more organizations consistently

Churches Often Do a Terrible Job of Encouraging Planned Giving – This is a Waste

• Even though many of the survey participants were pastors and church leaders, only 24% had planned to give an estate gift to their church in their will
• 46% indicated that they did not even have a will or estate plan

Digital Giving is a Major Factor Already. Use it or Lose it!

• 79% of churches surveyed offer website giving (up from 29% in 2010)
• 46% offer cell phone/text/app giving (up from 4% in 2010)
• 32% have a kiosk/iPad in the lobby for in-person digital giving
• Increasingly, people are shopping and paying online, by apps, or with auto-pay services Few people carry checks or much cash on them anymore. Yet the number one way churches collect donations is by passing a bucket or plate during worship services
• Only 14% of respondents want envelopes in the pew
• 68% want digital options like a kiosk or iPad giving
• Only 21% were interested in online giving on the church website, while 49% want an app and 54% want cell phone text options

Consider the linkage between regular attendance and the availability of electronic giving. If you do not have a full suite of electronic giving options, the amount in donations you can expect to receive from someone on a given Sunday who is not attending is – zero.

So, What Do We Make of All This?

The Stewardship for Us team provided a workshop at the 2015 General Assembly on the changing face of technology and stewardship (https://stewardshipforus.com/the-essentials-of-electronic-giving/ ). The fundamentals we discussed then are reinforced by this survey:

1. The egiving environment is rapidly and constantly changing. What did not work before, may work very well now, and vice versa. Providers come and go. Text giving is often still expensive and cumbersome to set up, but there are always new offerings coming on line; new Apps are appearing that are very easy to set up and use.
2. The diligent stewardship team stays on watch to find what might work for your congregation.
3. Watch this space, subscribe to the UU email group UU-MONEY, and check in with the UU Stewardship Lab on Facebook. Ask what other churches of all denominations are doing.
4. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and give it some time to work. If it doesn’t work, stop doing it and move on!
5.  People want egiving options, the more and easier, the better. One solution will NOT fit for everyone. Our job as members of the stewardship team is to make giving easy for everyone.
6. One fundamental has not changed – the importance of continuing to educate our members about stewardship as an integral part of congregational life; it’s living our values.

Let us know here on our blog or on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/S4US1/) about trends and resources you see. Share the good news when you find it!

Bill Clontz is a stewardship consultant with the Stewardship for Us team, supporting the UUA.

Bill can be reached at bill@stewardshipforus.com, via UUA Congregational Life, (http://www.uua.org/finance/fundraising), or via regional staff.

This blog has a new posting no less than once a month. You may find it, and more at www.stewardshipforus.com. You are welcome to sign up for stewardship updates at the blog.

Comments and discussion are always welcome; share your experiences and ideas with us.