Most members of Generation iY (those born after 1990) don’t wear watches, own desktop computers, or remember a time before the Internet. Among their many character strengths, members of this generation tend to be generous, at heart. But you can be sure that giving in church offering plates by placing paper checks in numbered envelopes simply won’t mesh with their style. It’s not just the up-and-coming generation whose support ministries are losing when they don’t avail themselves of electronic giving options: Most people under age 45 are becoming more inclined to pay bills electronically. Ministries need to be able to receive these increasingly common payment styles comfortably, with a secure system that’s designed to meet ministry needs.
The question of the hour is this: What keeps ministries from using electronic giving? The biggest obstacle to Christian ministries’ incorporating EFT is fear of the unknown. Is it safe? How will we manage it? These questions are normal and can be addressed by members of E-giving Systems through conference calls, webinars, or speaker phone presentations to your ministry’s board. The goal of such a session would not be the sale of a system, but an increased focus for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom. The more informed and unified your organization’s leadership team is in its approach, the more quickly its e-giving growth can be. Through e-giving growth, your ministry can see greater financial stability and overall growth.
While many Christians retain a level of concern over online payments and their safety, making payments online is actually more secure than mailing a paper check. The fears of fraud and error may be common, but they are virtually unfounded.
In addition to recurring electronic payments, Egiving.com promotes the use of online payments. Such web-based giving is only part of the necessary transition of basing various aspects of your ministry online. Through e-mail updates and a purposefully designed and utilized website, the opportunities for online giving will increase. When people can set up their own online accounts for recurring payments, such opportunities will be at their peak.
The next step would be to connect the E-giving donation management system with other online activities. Event registrations and other online-exclusive content give users reasons to return to your website and additional opportunities to give. As growth of your ministry’s online community occurs, your website can be upgraded to include shopping carts and integrated accounting. In order to implement E-giving with your existing website, there are two basic options: files for your webmaster or donor pages created by Egiving. If Egiving provides webpages for your use, they will be designed to match your existing site design.
As Egiving Systems looks toward the future, some emerging new capabilities will be made available throughout 2011. Some of the most anticipated updates include the additions of text giving, missionary access, links and file downloads for QuickBooks, and an unlimited form wizard for giving, payments, and event registrations.
With Egiving.com (view the Egiving brochure [pdf]), your ministry can embrace the future and see higher giving rates, not as an end in itself, but as a means to furthering the cause of Christ.
