21 October 2024
Advent and Christmas are times when we normally see more people attending our church services and events, perhaps for the first time. It’s important to offer a variety of ways in which to accept donations, particularly when visitors are less likely to carry cash. Here are our top tips to encourage digital giving in your church.
1. Get started with online giving
If you haven’t set up online giving yet, Parish Buying offers a simple online giving service through Give a Little and churches can receive the Premium version for free: Setup online giving through Parish Buying
2. Get creative with QR codes
QR codes are a contactless way to share your online giving page with smartphone users. You can add your QR code to posters, pew cards, Order of Service sheets, newsletters – in fact anything printable – or even display it on a screen. Find out more about using QR codes.
3. Consider contactless giving
Having a contactless machine creates an opportunity for those unfamiliar with churches to donate. If your church wants to invest in a contactless machine, visit Parish Buying to browse a range of options that you can purchase at a discounted price.
If you already have a contactless device don’t forget to put it in a prominent, easy to access position. Think about where people congregate before and after a service. Check that your volunteers are confident to support visitors using the machine.
4. Sign-up for a Digital Giving Webinar
Church of England Digital Labs are hosting a ‘Special Webinar: Digital Giving this Advent and Christmas’ on 6 November 2pm – 3pm.
They’ll be looking at Digital Giving and how it can help your church. It’ll include templates for promoting donation QR codes, and how to edit those on Canva. They'll also share ways in which you can maximise opportunities for giving over the Advent and Christmas period.
5. Contact our Parish Giving Advisors
Beccy Hills and Michelle Cottis are available to support you with digital giving, at any time of year! They can be contacted via giving@chelmsford.anglican.org or visit our website for more information about digital giving.
