Mobile Donation Tips For Churches
Whether for weekly offerings or larger capital raising campaigns, donations are the lifeblood of most churches. Surprisingly, the collection plate hasn’t changed much in the past two thousand years, even as society and technology have greatly evolved.
Traditional collection plates work well only when church members are physically present and have cash on hand. But with the rapid rise of digital worship services, church attendance has steadily been on the decline across all denominations and so has traditional means of tithing. The decline of cash has also changed the nature of church giving (an estimated 66% carry less than $50 of cash on a regular basis).
Many churches are now turning to mobile credit card processing to expand their reach and collect more donations — faster and more securely. In fact mobile donations were up over 200% in 2015 as compared to 2014. And that trend was continuing through 2016.
Making the Most of Mobile Payments for Churches
How you set up mobile credit card processing can play an important role in your fundraising efforts. Below are eight simple tips to help you maximize mobile donations within your congregation:
1. Announce It
The most important (and often overlooked) step is to announce that you now accept mobile credit card payments in addition to whatever other collection systems you already have in place.
2. Make Your Church Wi-Fi Enabled
4G cellular networks are usually strong enough to handle credit card processing. But they are not 100 percent reliable. Make sure your church is Internet-ready with a stable and consistent Wi-Fi connection.
3. Make Accounting Easy
Mobile credit card processing is great for the church, but it's also great for congregation members. By making the accounting automatic, your parishioners will find it easier to track charitable donations and receipts during tax season.
4. Ensure Seamless Integration
Mobile credit card processing is already a standalone solution. But if you integrate this payment option with existing online technology, you'll see much better results. Consider:
- Making sure your church allows for online giving directly through your website.
- Allowing automatic event registration (one swipe of the credit card instantly registers someone for that particular event)
- Designing your church's website to be mobile friendly (complete with calls to action for online donations)
5. Two-Way Processing
Allow congregation members to send donations directly from their own phones — via text messaging, QR codes, or third party apps. Be sure to set up donation reminders in case parishioners are away on vacation or during the holidays.
6. Recurring Billing
If you set up recurring payments, congregation members don’t even need to be present. New donations are debited from their bank account or credit card automatically, even when parishioners are on vacation.
7. Accept Debit Cards
During troubled financial times, many churches become uncomfortable about relying on credit cards to collect donations. But by accepting debit cards as well, it’s easier to practice responsible debt management.
8. Makes Security a Priority
Mobile credit card processing is one of the safest payment methods around. But data breaches can and do happen. Give your congregation peace of mind by using PCI Data Security Standard-compliant payment solutions.
By utilizing these simple but helpful tips, your church will dramatically increase its weekly donations, while providing more convenience for your parishioners. It's a true win-win!
Contact Us Today to learn more about our customized mobile and online payment solutions for churches and non-profit organizations.
Visit us online at www.TailoredTransactions.com or call us direct at (888) 669.1686