Kentucky Church Has Winning Combination for Giving

Okolona Christian Church in Louisville, KY is a model church for utilizing both print and electronic tools to gain tithes, offerings and gifts to their church.

Okolona has been mailing their members offering envelopes since 2002 with AmericanChurch, Inc., and more recently added Online Giving – a combination that works well.

Business administrator, Elaine Duncan manages the contributions for the church. “When a member goes to online giving, we take them off of our envelope list. By offering both methods of giving, people can give in the way that works best for them,” Elaine comments.

The church has no plans to adjust their offering envelope program, as many members prefer that method of giving. Along with the weekly envelope, a mail back envelope is included in every packet to encourage sending in their gift when away.

Elaine says, “In most cases, our older members prefer to receive envelopes and younger people gravitate to the electronic option. Yet we have several older members who use Online Giving because it allows their gift to be automatically debited from their account like their utilities.”

When asked which method she prefers from an administration standpoint, Elaine would like to see more people online. She points out the money goes directly into the church’s account, that gifts are more regular due to the recurring option, and that Online Giving is easy to manage. Elaine is pleased that online givers have continued to grow. That’s partly because Okolona does an excellent job of promoting the electronic option.

“We always have a blurb in the bulletin about online giving. In addition, whenever we talk about stewardship, we make sure that it’s mentioned. It seems that as soon as we bring it up, more people sign up almost immediately.”

In that spirit of promotion, Okolona Christian Church has a web page dedicated to online giving. The page contains copy about the importance of online giving as a means of income to the church. A downloadable brochure that explains online giving and answers frequently asked questions is also featured on the page.

Okolona’s approach to gaining contributions works. By making it easy for people to give in the way they prefer, they experience sustained giving and support for their ministries.

Merry Christmas from AmericanChurch

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Print Plus Web - A Match Made in Heaven

I have visited several churches throughout the country over the past few months. Although each church is different in size and scope, there was a recurring discussion worth repeating.

As electronic giving continues to increase across generations, some church leaders tend to equate that increase with a decrease in the demand for printed offering envelopes. “How do we decide which to use? Can we eliminate envelopes?” is a common comment. We respond with a resounding “CAUTION”.

The thought is appropriate, but the caution lies in placing the giving habits of your members and guests into one bucket, and limiting the vehicles by which they prefer to give. Printed offering envelopes and online giving are not competition, but rather, complimentary vehicles for communication and contributions. Unless your congregational make up is of a single generation, your church will benefit from both print and electronic giving vehicles – especially if used in concert with each other.

Does your offering envelope include the URL to Online Giving? Is there an “I gave online” check box on your offering envelope that allows the electronic giver to participate in the act of worship during service?

Does your website reinforce the message of prayerful giving? Are you reminding your congregation that they can set up recurring gifts or one time gifts easily online?

There are countless ways that you can promote engagement and contributions through the use of printed and web communications together. Considering the cost of printed offering envelopes is just a couple dollars per year per member, it only wise to continue this traditional form of giving in your communication mix along with online giving.

Let’s hear from you. How do you use offering envelopes and online giving to communicate to members and guests?

2011 Hot Product

Religious Product News®, a monthly publication for religious leaders and pastors named Online Giving from AmericanChurch, Inc. a Hot Product for 2011. 

In the magazine’s evaluation, ACI Online Giving is a product that will help churches operate more effectively and efficiently. 

Of course, we agree, but don’t take our word or even the endorsement of the magazine. Take Anita Coleman's word, administrator of Enon Tabernacle Church in Philadelphia. 

“Online Giving is revolutionary,” Coleman says. “Members love the option to give online and set up giving on their terms.

People expect change to be difficult, but Coleman says that as soon as members saw how easy Online Giving is to set up, the compliments started coming in. It’s important to be able to offer members giving options, Coleman notes. And giving electronically lets them have the opportunity to give when they are out-of-town or on vacation.”

As the use of technology grows and the generation gap of internet users continues to narrow, churches need an online giving option. ACI Online Giving is a preferred solution for several important reasons. 

ACI Online Giving was developed specifically to suit the unique needs of churches. Reporting features allow for easy import and appropriate reporting at the touch of a button. The church is in control of the types of funds to offer and how they will accept gifts (ACH or Credit Card). 

The giver can access Online Giving directly from the church website. He can set up recurring funds – which equates to better consistency of contributions coming into the church. 

AmericanChurch thanks Religious Products News® for recognizing ACI Online Giving as an appropriate “wish list” product for 2012. 

For more information about Online Giving, download our FREE white paper, Why Churches Should Implement Online Giving.