You’ve done everything—planned the fundraisers, made the announcements, even put in extra effort to spread the word—but when it’s time to show up and give, your congregation just… doesn’t.
Low turnout. Small donations. Programs that should be growing are barely getting by because there’s just not enough money coming in.
And after a while, you start wondering:
- Is our church just not generous?
- Do people just not care?
- What are we doing wrong?
Here’s the truth: Your congregation does care—but people give to what resonates with them.
If they’re not showing up or donating, it’s not because they don’t want to support the church—it’s because they don’t see themselves in the ask. They don’t feel personally connected to the cause, so they don’t prioritize it.
That’s where data-driven fundraising changes everything.
Think about it like this—if you’re raising money for an after-school program, who in your congregation is most likely to care? Young families, educators, and grandparents. But if your biggest givers are passionate about homelessness, you might struggle to raise money for youth programs—not because they don’t give, but because you’re not aligning with their priorities.
This is why data is critical. Instead of guessing what will get people to give, you use real information to reach the right people, craft the right message, and position your programs in a way that attracts serious financial support.
Now, let’s dive deeper into how you can start gathering the right information, crafting targeted fundraising messages, and building a strategy that keeps your programs funded—without the constant struggle.
Step 1: Find Out Who Gives and Why
If you don’t know who your biggest supporters are, what they care about, or how often they give, you’re missing critical information.
Right now, your church might be:
- Promoting fundraisers that don’t excite your congregation
- Sending the same fundraising message to everyone (and wondering why it falls flat)
- Not realizing that a small group of people is already funding most of your work
The first step to fixing this is tracking who gives and what drives them.
Start keeping record of:
- Who gives regularly (not just big gifts, but consistent support)
- What areas they give to (youth programs, community outreach, missions)
- Are there patterns in their giving (do they give more at certain times of the year)
A church kept struggling to raise money for their youth program. They assumed their congregation just didn’t care enough. But when they looked at their giving records, they realized most of their consistent donors were passionate about community outreach, not youth ministry.
So instead of promoting their fundraiser as “Help Support Our Youth Program,” they reframed it as:
“Your support helps keep kids off the streets and gives them a safe place to grow in faith.”
By connecting it to what their donors already cared about, giving went up.
Take 15 minutes to look at past donations and identify any trends. Who are your most consistent supporters? What do they care about?
Step 2: Apply the 80/20 Rule—Focus on Your Biggest Supporters First
Most churches don’t realize that 80 percent of their donations typically come from just 20 percent of their congregation.
That means a small group of people is making the biggest impact.
But if you’re treating everyone the same when it comes to fundraising, you’re missing an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the people who are already the backbone of your church’s giving.
This doesn’t mean ignoring everyone else—it just means making sure you’re investing the right amount of effort in the people who make the biggest impact.
A church assumed their biggest donor was someone who gave large one-time gifts. But when they actually looked at their giving data, they realized their most valuable donor was someone who gave $100 every month, consistently, for years.
Instead of treating that person like a small donor, they started building a relationship with them, keeping them updated on church projects, and involving them in conversations about ministry growth.
That $100 a month turned into even bigger support.
Look at your giving records. Who are your most consistent donors? Reach out and personally thank them this week.
Step 3: Stop Making Giving About Needs—Start Making It About Impact
If your fundraising message is “We need $10,000 for a new building,” you’re making a critical mistake.
People don’t give because your church needs money.
They give because they want to see something change.
If people aren’t responding to your fundraising appeals, it’s probably because:
- You’re focusing on what you need instead of what their gift will accomplish
- Your message is too broad and doesn’t connect emotionally
- People don’t see the real impact their giving has
Instead of saying:
“We need $5,000 for our after-school program.”
Try saying:
“Because of your generosity, 30 kids now have a safe place to go after school. With more support, we can reach even more families.”
When people see real impact, they don’t just give once—they keep giving.
The next time you ask for donations, connect it to a real story of impact.
Step 4: Use Data to Time Your Fundraising Right
Have you ever launched a fundraising campaign, and it completely flopped?
One big reason is bad timing.
If you know when people give, you can plan your fundraising efforts around those times instead of hoping for the best.
Look at past giving trends and ask:
- Do people give more at the end of the year?
- Do certain fundraisers do better in specific months?
- Do big gifts tend to come from in-person events or online appeals?
A church realized that most of their biggest donations came in December. Instead of spreading fundraising efforts evenly throughout the year, they put most of their energy into making their year-end campaign as strong as possible.
The result? More money, less stress.
Look at past giving records. When does your congregation give the most? Plan your biggest fundraising pushes around that time.
Step 5: Keep People Engaged Outside of Fundraising Campaigns
If the only time people hear from you is when you’re asking for money, they’ll start tuning you out.
Churches that raise the most money don’t just communicate when they need something.
They:
- Regularly update their congregation on how funds are being used
- Show appreciation for donors throughout the year
- Make giving feel like a shared mission—not just a transaction
A church that struggled with donor retention started sending out monthly email updates with stories of impact. Nothing fancy—just a quick “Here’s how your support is making a difference” email.
They saw a 30 percent increase in recurring gifts just by keeping people engaged.
Find a simple way to keep donors in the loop—whether it’s a social media post, an email, or a Sunday morning shout-out.
Final Thoughts: Fundraising Is Easier When You Know What Works
Right now, your church might be working hard on fundraising but not seeing the results you need.
- If your fundraisers have low turnout, it’s because you’re not connecting with what excites your supporters.
- If giving is inconsistent, it’s because you don’t know when people are most likely to give.
- If people aren’t responding to your donation asks, it’s because you’re not speaking to their passion.
The good news? These problems can be fixed by using data.
It’s time to stop running fundraisers that fall flat and start using data to engage your supporters, raise more money, and grow your ministry.