By Brent Lacy

Most small churches approach generosity the same way. They preach a stewardship sermon in October. They present the budget at the annual meeting. They hope people give enough to cover the expenses.

That is not a generosity culture. That is a fundraising strategy.

A genuine culture of generosity is different. It is formed over years, not months. It is built on theology, not technique. And it produces people who give joyfully and consistently, not people who give out of obligation when the budget is tight.

The Theological Foundation

Generosity culture starts with theology, not technique. Before you talk about giving, you need to talk about ownership.

The biblical worldview is that God owns everything. We are stewards, not owners. Everything we have, including our money, our time, and our abilities, belongs to God and is entrusted to us for his purposes.

When people genuinely believe this, generosity becomes natural. When they do not, no fundraising technique will produce lasting generosity.

Preach Generosity Regularly

A church that only talks about money during the annual stewardship campaign is a church that treats money as a necessary evil rather than a spiritual issue.

Preach about money and generosity regularly throughout the year. Not always in the context of the church’s budget. In the context of discipleship. What does it mean to hold money loosely? What does Scripture say about wealth and poverty? How does generosity form us spiritually?

Jesus talked about money more than almost any other topic. A church that avoids the subject is not being spiritual. It is being avoidant.

Tell Stories of Generosity

Stories form culture more effectively than principles. When you tell stories of generosity, you give people a vision of what generosity looks like in practice.

• Share stories of how the church’s giving has impacted people in the community.
• Invite congregation members to share how generosity has affected their own faith.
• Tell stories of missionaries and ministry partners whose work is supported by the church’s giving.
• Celebrate generosity publicly when it is appropriate to do so.

Make Giving Easy

Generosity culture is not just about motivation. It is also about removing barriers.

• Offer online giving. Many people no longer carry cash or checks. If you do not have online giving, you are making it harder for people to give.
• Provide giving envelopes. For members who prefer to give by check, providing envelopes with their name and member number makes the process easier and helps with record-keeping.
• Send giving statements. Annual giving statements are required for tax purposes and remind members of their giving history.
• Acknowledge gifts promptly. A thank-you note or email within one week of a first gift significantly increases the likelihood of a second gift.

Model Generosity from the Leadership

Generosity culture starts at the top. If the pastor and board members are not generous givers, the congregation will not be either.

This does not mean publicizing what leaders give. It means that leaders should be able to say honestly that they give generously to the church they lead. A pastor who asks the congregation to give but does not give themselves has a credibility problem.

Celebrate What Generosity Accomplishes

Close the loop. Tell the congregation what their giving has accomplished. Not just the budget numbers. The stories. The lives changed. The ministries funded. The community served.

People give more when they know their giving matters. Show them that it does.

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