A few years ago, I put a Generational Giving Analysis together for my church just to see what it revealed.

I found the results fascinating.

Take a look.

A Few Highlights:

*Middle 2 Generations make up 73% of givers and 81% of dollars given
*The Boomers were giving 48% of the total and the most per giver
*Within 10 years or so, giving levels of 41% of our givers will decline (as they exit the work force)
*For every Silents lost, it’ll take 2 Gen Y’s to replace that giving

The analysis provide lots of other data there too, take a look.

 

The $6 million question is…

“to what extent of the older generation’s generosity (in our case, the 1st 3) will be replaced by the millennial and future generations?”

It’s tempting to assume as the younger generations get older, they’ll become more generous. Sure, SOME will increase their giving as they get better jobs/earn more…but I wouldn’t put too many eggs in that basket.

In the book, “The Coming Evangelical Recession”, the author claims giving will decline some 46% in fourteen years (eleven now) once the Silent Generation is gone. That’s a very large dark cloud on the horizon. That may be a worst case scenario. That claim is based on data that says the Silent Generation is giving 46% of all donations to nonprofits. (For my church, that figure was 13%)

Sure, for churches without Boomers and younger families, they will shut the doors. In other churches where there’s not a large % of Silents in the church, it won’t be that bad in the near term.

I believe God’s Word that says the Gates of Hell will not prevail and God will grow His Church. I mean, the Church will survive and thrive in spite of what happens.

However, God has called us to be planners.

Here’s what I do know – to do nothing in this area is not prudent. I think given a ton of factors, the younger generations in the whole won’t replace the generosity levels of the older. The churches that survive for the long term will begin preparing now.

 

A Five Point Strategy

1. Giving/Generosity

Preach the whole counsel of God without apology. Giving and stewardship included.
Teach Budgeting & Stewardship to your high-schoolers before they get out of the house.
Offer Adult Financial Education classes coupled with financial coaching. Injoy Stewardship offers both and more.

Do these things FOR your people free of charge. (Budget for it or find a donor to fund it to get started).
Help them to have a biblical view of stewardship. Then SHOW them how to dream and plan for their families futures.
Let’s face it, if they can’t support their families and fund their futures, they can’t possibly participate in funding the mission of the church.

Offer and PROMOTE multiple ways to give. (easy, quick and intuitive).

Encourage those not giving to start.
Encourage givers to work toward the tithe and even beyond.
Cultivate relationships with High Capacity Givers in your church.

2. Focus on Young Singles and Families

I mean that’s obvious right?

You must be raising up the next generation to lead and steward well. Otherwise – Your. Church. Will. Cease. To. Exist.

Reach their kids and you’ll reach families to minister to and with. Grow from there.

3. Increase Volunteer Engagement

You need to be creating and building a volunteer culture. Paid staff must recruit/lead volunteer leaders who recruit and oversee other volunteers. Push your ratio of Attendance to Staff UP. Top Tier Churches have a ratio of 100:1. (Based on FTE’s)

It’s a given that serving in the church is a component of biblical discipleship – if future giving indeed trends down, you’ll have less money for ministry and for paid staff.

Churches where paid staff do most/all ministry will be anemic at best and at worse, may not survive.

4. Reduce Admin Costs by Outsourcing

This is becoming more and more of a trend and reality for churches. They are outsourcing needed administrative functions and realizing cost savings – and achieving efficiency savings.

Here are some of the church staff outsourcing I’ve seen:

Administrative Assistants &/or Secretaries
Bookkeepers
Web Site Support
Graphic Design

And, even Custodial Services.

5. Leverage Legacy Giving

55 to 65% of people don’t have a Will and many that do may not have thought about bequeathing anything to their church. Some people in your church have significant assets that would LOVE to help their church advance the Gospel.

Plus, you get to help everyone in your church by helping them create or update their will. Offer both Will and Legacy Planning Services.

|In closing|

I’d encourage you to prepare this analysis and see what it reveals for your church. Update the analysis once every year or two and track the movement.
Pray, plan, adjust accordingly.
What would you add?

Scroll down and let me hear from you.