Do weekly attenders at religious services give more? Yes. Based on Statistics Canada General Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating in 2018 and 2023, plus T3010 data from Canadian churches.

The spiritual practice of writing a thank-you letter. Part 2 of the Annual Blessings of Charitable Receipts. Writing prompts and a sample thank-you letter from the perspective of a minister of a tiny church which you are welcome to adapt.

The annual blessing of charitable receipts - turn a chore into a blessing.

Each receipt tells a story. Someone cares enough about your organization to send you money. Your ministry is that important to them. Acknowledge their generosity with both accuracy and gratitude.

A primer on Canadian receipting for churches and small charities, including links to helpful resources.

Stories of how faithful donors learned to be generous and why it’s never too late to learn how to give.

Trends in religious giving, based on an article from In Trust magazine. Two main points:

• fewer donors giving more (Lori’s take)

• decreasing religious affiliation.

Plus, a couple of quick “back of the envelope” calculations a church or charity can do to see if the same trends apply to them.

A church budget is like a stewardship sermon, except that people are paying more attention. How can presenting a budget nurture generosity and build trust?

Apple Seed church isn’t meeting the budget and they have a part-time youth pastor. Can they run a budget deficit and hope members will increase their giving?

Referencing the classic stewardship book Grower’s Givers Hearts: Treating Fundraising as Ministry, a post on setting the church budget realistically and faithfully.

A church budget names the things so important that the congregation will put money there. It’s a deeply theological document. Think “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”

This post includes a short video on the Circle of Grace model of giving.

How many ways can donors give to your charity? Exploring the many, many ways to give using a charity founded by a vacuum cleaner company as illustration.