To increase online giving, a church’s donation page must be simple, trustworthy, mobile-friendly, and built to encourage recurring generosity. Small improvements to clarity, speed, and design often lead to meaningful increases in completed donations.
This checklist walks through 15 practical, proven ways churches can improve their online giving page and remove the most common barriers that cause donors to abandon the process.
Many churches manage giving as part of their broader church donation management tools, which helps ensure donations, records, and follow-up stay connected.
How can a church increase online giving and recurring donations?
Churches increase online giving by reducing friction, clearly communicating impact, and making generosity easy to repeat. Donors are far more likely to give when the process feels safe, fast, and aligned with the church’s mission.
1. Make the giving page easy to find
Your giving page should be accessible from the main navigation and homepage. If people have to search for how to give, many will not finish.
2. Optimize the page for mobile devices
A majority of online giving happens on phones. Buttons should be large, forms short, and text easy to read on small screens.
3. Reduce the number of required fields
Only ask for information that is absolutely necessary. Long forms are one of the top reasons donors abandon online giving.
4. Offer recurring giving by default
Recurring giving should be clearly visible and easy to select. Many donors are willing to give monthly if the option is presented clearly.
5. Clearly explain how donations are used
Briefly communicate impact. One or two sentences about how generosity supports ministry can significantly increase trust.
6. Use simple, distraction-free design
Remove unnecessary images, pop-ups, or links. A focused design helps donors complete the giving process without hesitation.
7. Show trust and security indicators
Donors want to know their payment information is secure. Clear reassurance helps remove uncertainty.
8. Allow multiple payment options
Different donors prefer different methods. Credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers help reduce giving barriers.
9. Include suggested giving amounts
Suggested amounts help guide donors and often increase the average gift size.
10. Use clear, encouraging language
Friendly, ministry-focused language feels more welcoming than technical or transactional wording.
11. Avoid forcing account creation
First-time givers should be able to give quickly without setting up an account.
12. Confirm donations immediately
A clear confirmation message reassures donors that their gift was successful.
13. Send timely follow-up communication
Prompt acknowledgments reinforce trust and gratitude while opening the door for future engagement.
14. Connect giving to your broader systems
Online giving works best when integrated into your overall church management software, reducing manual work and errors.
15. Review giving reports regularly
Monitoring giving trends helps church leaders identify opportunities to improve generosity and engagement.
Why recurring giving matters for church stewardship
Recurring giving creates financial stability and allows churches to plan ministry with greater confidence. Even small monthly gifts add up over time and strengthen long-term stewardship.
FAQ
What makes an online giving page effective?
An effective giving page is simple, mobile-friendly, secure, and focused on completing the donation without distractions.
Should churches prioritize recurring giving?
Yes. Recurring giving provides consistent support and helps donors stay engaged beyond one-time gifts.
How often should a church review its giving page?
At least once or twice a year, or anytime donation trends change unexpectedly.
Do shorter giving forms really make a difference?
Yes. Fewer required fields consistently lead to higher completion rates.
Is online giving secure for churches?
When handled through reputable systems and best practices, online giving is widely trusted and reliable.
How can churches encourage first-time online donors?
Clarity, reassurance, and ease of use are the biggest factors for first-time givers.
Next steps
If your church wants to simplify online giving and connect it seamlessly with other ministry tools, it may be time to explore giving solutions designed specifically for churches.