You’ve likely seen GivingTuesday mentioned online or heard other organizations talk about it. But what exactly is it, and how can your church take part in a way that’s actually helpful?
GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity that happens each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It started in 2012 as a response to the consumer focus of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Instead of buying more, it’s a day focused on giving back.
Since then, it has grown into a worldwide movement, with millions of people giving to causes they care about. In 2024, an estimated $3.6 billion was raised in the U.S. by over 36 million people, a 16% increase over the previous year.
From its beginning, GivingTuesday has been dominated by non-profits. But why?
This season isn’t just for nonprofits. It’s a powerful opportunity for the Church. While nonprofits use this time to make strong appeals, launch campaigns, and highlight their impact, churches often remain silent. But, churches have an even deeper calling to show the world what gospel-shaped generosity looks like.
This season isn’t just for nonprofits. It’s a powerful opportunity for the Church.
Your mission already advances the Kingdom. Your church is meeting real needs, reaching people, and changing lives through the hope of Jesus. If you don’t speak up when hearts are open to give, people may invest elsewhere. Not because they don’t care, but because they haven’t been invited to join in what God is doing through your ministry.
People are looking for purpose, impact, and connection. GivingTuesday gives you a chance to point them toward eternal impact, to something bigger than a campaign: participating in God’s mission to love, serve, and redeem the world. With a focused goal and clear communication, your church can use this day to strengthen community, inspire generosity, and make a real difference for the Kingdom.
Why Churches Should Participate in GivingTuesday
Here’s why GivingTuesday is a powerful opportunity for your church:
- People are in a generosity mindset. After a weekend of shopping and family time, many are looking for meaningful ways to give.
- It offers a focused short-term campaign. Rather than a long, vague ask, you pick one project, one day, one goal. That clarity is energizing.
- It helps build donor and giver momentum for your ministry. If you engage people now with excitement and clarity, that energy can carry into year-end giving and future generosity.
- It helps your church show real impact. Donors don’t just want to give, they want to see what their giving accomplishes. By naming what you’ll do with the funds you raise (for example “$50,000 to expand the children’s ministry” or “$5,000 to help local families have Christmas meals”) you give your congregants tangible reason to give.
- It widens your engagement. Because GivingTuesday is a known moment, it gives you a way to invite people (members and non-members) to engage with your church’s mission, possibly for the first time.
A lot of people in your congregation are going to give on GivingTuesday. But, if you don’t take action, it won’t be to your church.
How to Engage Your Congregation for GivingTuesday
Here is a practical, easy-to-follow structure. The goal is to keep it straightforward, not overwhelming.
1. Choose a Clear, Actionable Goal
Pick a specific project and dollar target. For example: “We are raising $50,000 on GivingTuesday to expand our children’s ministry area.” Or, it could be a smaller goal like raising a few thousand dollars to wheelchair ramps for people in the community. Either way, make it concrete and time-bound.
What about the overage? Decide ahead what happens if you exceed your goal and communicate that to your congregation.
“If we raise more than $50,000 we will use the extra for [project B] or to expand the original project.”
2. Communicate Before the Day
Start a few days (2-3 days) before GivingTuesday. Let your church family know:
- What you’re doing (the project)
- Why it matters (the impact)
- How they can participate (online link, text, app, in-church giving)
- That this is a one-day push, which creates urgency
- Include brief announcements during services, a slide in the bulletin, mention in the church app or website
Your congregation will be in church two days before GivingTuesday. Take a moment to talk about it.
3. Communications On the Day
Plan several touch points through the day:
- Morning email + text to launch the effort and remind people the clock is ticking.
- Mid-morning or midday update via text/app/social:
- Afternoon push: another email or app notification.
- Use your church app or social channels to post during the day:
- Share a short video or photo of the ministry or project.
- Post progress
- Evening wrap-up: send a final text or app notification: thank those who have given and let people know how much is still needed (or that you hit the goal and welcome any additional gifts toward the overage plan).
4. After the Day: Celebrate and Follow Up
- Send a thank-you email (or text) to all who gave/participated.
- Share the final result: how much was raised, how many people gave.
- Give a short update on the following Sunday, thank your congregation, and remind them that generosity doesn’t just have to happen on that one day. That builds continued trust and enthusiasm for end-of-year giving and even the following year.
GivingTuesday Communication Templates
Email #1 (2-3 days before)
Subject: Be part of something big this GivingTuesday
Body:
Hi [First Name],
This Tuesday is GivingTuesday, a day of generosity when people across the world unite to make a real difference in their communities. Here at [Church Name], we’re joining in to raise [$X] to [Y], and we would love for you to be part of it.
Every gift matters, and your generosity helps us share God’s love in a tangible way. You can even give early to help kick off our goal.
Give early here: [Giving Link]
Thank you for being part of what God is doing through [Church Name]. Your generosity is changing lives.
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
Email #2 (Morning of)
Subject: Today’s the day! Help us reach our GivingTuesday goal
Body:
Good morning [First Name],
Today is GivingTuesday, a day focused on generosity and community impact. Our goal is [$X] to [Y], and we need your help to reach it.
Your gift today will help us continue sharing hope and meeting needs in our community.
Give now and join others who are already giving: [Giving Link]
We’ll be sharing updates as the day goes on. Thank you for being part of this with us.
[Your Name]
Text #1 (Morning of)
It’s GivingTuesday! Join [Church Name] as we raise [$X] to [Y]. Every gift makes a difference. Give here: [Link]
Text #2 (Mid-day update)
We’re already [X%] toward our GivingTuesday goal. Help us finish strong and make an even greater impact for the Kingdom. Give now: [Link]
Additional Things to Keep in Mind for GivingTuesday
- Pray over your campaign and your givers. Before you promote or launch anything, take time as a team to ask the Lord to bless this effort, soften hearts, and use every dollar for His glory.
- Keep it simple: This is not a huge campaign. A clear goal, a few communications, a one-day timeline. Easy to execute.
- Storytelling helps: Use one or two short stories or testimonies in your communications that show why the project matters (for example, a family helped or a ministry ready to launch).
- Mobile-friendly giving: Make sure your giving link can be used on mobile, and your text/church app messages link directly to giving.
- Matching gifts: If possible, secure a “matching gift” challenge (“Every dollar given by noon will be matched up to $2,000”). This creates urgency and helps boost giving.
- Timing of updates: Mid-day progress updates help people feel part of something unfolding.
- Plan for overage and under-budget: If you exceed your goal, decide ahead of time how you’ll use the extra funds and communicate that clearly to your donors. If you don’t reach your full target, be transparent about what was raised and explain how you’ll adjust the project’s scope or timeline.
- Keep giving momentum going: After GivingTuesday you can segue into your normal year-end giving with momentum from the day.
- Communicate impact later: A brief follow-up (two to four weeks later) with “Here’s what your gift did” helps deepen trust and engagement for next year.
- Minimize stress on your team: Because this is one day, one goal, and a simple plan, you don’t need a massive new campaign. Use your existing channels (email, text/app, in-church announcements) rather than new complex assets.
GivingTuesday isn’t just a day to raise money. It gives your church a meaningful moment to come together in generosity, reminding your people that every gift is an act of worship and participation in God’s mission.
With a clear focus, prayerful preparation, and simple communication, your church can use this day to strengthen unity, spark joy in giving, and advance the Kingdom without adding unnecessary stress for your team.
Do you want to see how GivingTuesday can fit into your full year-end giving strategy? Check out our free End-of-Year Giving Schedule. You’ll have a complete guide with simple steps to take each week to maximize the season.