Trust – The Real Reason Many People Do Not Give To Your Church

I could not think of a better way to start 2015 than by stressing the importance of trust and transparency when it comes to leadership.  Therefore, I want to make available to you the following guest blog from my friends at MAG Bookkeeping.    

If your church wants to ensure integrity with its financial records, there is no organization I recommend you contact more than this organization led by Bryan Miles, his wife Shannon and Randy Ongie.  Click HERE or on the image provided to get more information.  Now onto the post.  Enjoy!

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The rapid shifts in technology and information were brought into sharp relief for us the other day, as one of our team members was talking to a student getting ready to graduate from college in December. “When I graduated from college,” our team member said, “all we had was dial-up Internet access.” The student just nodded – that was all it took to establish the differences in their worlds as they started their professional journeys.

The past few years, and the generations that have entered the workforce during those years, have radically altered the charitable giving landscape. When our team member was graduating from college and getting her first cell phone, donating by text message was still at least a decade away. Mobile giving, giving kiosks, PayPal and Kickstarter weren’t even thought of yet. Online giving has opened up possibilities for us to support ministries around the globe, spreading the Gospel in ways we never could have imagined even just a few years ago.

Churches aren’t the only ones who are taking advantage of these expanding giving opportunities – and sadly, they’re often far behind other non-profits when it comes to using technology for requesting and processing financial gifts. Combine that with generational differences, and the fact that many young people are looking for organizations to support that are making a demonstrable difference in the world, and churches are often last on the list of potential recipients of their charitable giving for many reasons. Some of those reasons include the fact that many churches aren’t great at generating financial reports, demonstrating clarity in how gifts are handled and used, and often get the very shortest end of the stick when it comes to media coverage of financial scandals. It all adds up to one thing – many people (especially young people) won’t give to churches because they don’t trust that the money will be used to really make a difference in the world.

Churches can do lots of things to combat these stereotypes, and increase the likelihood that people will think of the church first when they’re looking to make an investment that will make a difference. Establishing clear policies for handling donations of all types (cash, stock, real estate, etc.) and making sure those policies are clearly communicated to your congregation will build trust with donors that you know how to handle their money. Telling compelling stories, either through writing, video or testimonies during your worship experiences, of how your church is using the financial gifts given to it to help change lives in your community and your world will encourage potential donors to join in your work. Most of all, talking with your congregation regularly – and frankly – about the money they give and how you’re using it to spread the Good News will help make sure your congregation keeps supporting you in that work.