Offering How Much JH Sep 25 | Alexander Haas

May 28, 2025

from the Carolina office of
Jerry W. Henry | Managing Partner for Faith-Based & Human Services

How Much is Too Much?

“In the sermon this past week, our minister brought up our need to give more money to our church…again!”

It seems I am hearing more and more comments like this from members of congregations I’ve worked with recently.

Clergy and other church leaders feel more pressure than ever to discuss their church’s finances due to economic uncertainty and rising operational costs. They are doing everything they can to encourage their members to increase their philanthropic support.

On the other hand, I have heard from some clergy that they seldom address the topic of giving directly in their sermons. As one member of the clergy said to me, “I don’t want to mix the sacred (sharing the divine word) with the secular (focusing on asking for money).”

So, how much is too much when it comes to bringing up giving to the church during sermons, homilies, or other congregational talks?

There’s no definitive answer to how much preaching about finances and charitable giving is “too much,” as it depends on individual perspectives, the culture of the congregation, and the context of the sermon or message. However, some consider it excessive if the message emphasizes pressure or guilt or becomes a constant theme rather than maintaining a balanced approach. Some argue that the focus should be on encouraging a generous heart and a desire to help others, rather than on specific dollar amounts that are needed or the percentages of church households that contribute.

Let me share a few points for church leaders to consider when they feel the need to discuss annual stewardship giving or the church’s finances from the pulpit.

First, most church leaders agree that discussing congregational giving should occur throughout the year, not just during the church’s stewardship or annual giving season. What steps are you taking to talk about the importance of giving to the church year-round? Consider periodically integrating discussions about generosity and giving into sermons or announcements—perhaps every few months—rather than doing so weekly or constantly.

Second, link giving to your church’s vision and mission, illustrating how financial contributions support ministry and influence as your congregation aims to change lives.

In their book Generosity, Stewardship, and Abundance, authors Lovett Weems and Ann Michel offer two important insights for clergy to consider: 1) Never talk about people’s money apart from their discipleship; and 2) Never discuss the church’s money apart from its mission.

In the first instance, the authors suggest viewing financial discussions as an opportunity for spiritual growth and personal transformation, aiding members in maturing in their discipleship, and assisting individuals in aligning their financial choices with their faith.

In the second point, they emphasize that a church’s financial health should always be linked to fulfilling its mission. Clearly communicate how contributions directly impact the congregation’s work, making the connection between dollars and ministry evident.

Third, and very important for churches, regularly express appreciation for the congregation’s generosity and highlight the positive impact of their giving. Avoid discussing giving only when the church requires funds. Balance appeals with teachings about what your church has accomplished through financial support, and shower the congregation, as well as individual members, with expressions of gratitude.
In conclusion, there is no magic formula for how often clergy should discuss church finances, stewardship, and annual giving.

A balanced approach that combines teaching, vision casting, and heartfelt appeals can foster a culture of generosity in the church.

Also recognize that no matter how much or how little you discuss church giving, some members will feel it is too much, while others will argue that it’s not enough!

We Are Here to Help!

Do you need help with planning for next year? Our church consultants are here to guide you.

Alexander Haas is dedicated to helping churches/congregations build strong fundraising programs to meet both immediate and long-term objectives for mission and ministry.

Simply send us some basic information using this link and we will reach out to get the ball rolling.

Inclusion is Improving at Fortune 500 Companies

According to a new report from the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, many efforts to promote religious diversity have actually improved, suggesting that Fortune 500 companies globally are increasingly taking those efforts seriously.

The report gave businesses an average score of 4.2 for 2025 — up from 3.6 in 2024 and 2.1 in 2023. The highest possible score is 15, and scores are largely based on whether businesses list religion on their “about” or “people” webpages and have belief-based employee resource groups.

The report also suggests that the “pro-religious liberty policies of the current administration” may encourage companies to take their faith-based initiatives more seriously. The current administration has established or reinstated several initiatives focused on faith, including the White House Faith Office, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias and a Religious Liberty Commission.

Though the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation’s 2025 report highlights progress in religious inclusion, it also indicates that some companies are being less vocal about their efforts. This year, fewer companies participated in the REDI Index, an opt-in survey that assesses companies in 11 categories, including their religious accommodations, spiritual care/chaplaincy services, and procedures for reporting discrimination. Last year, 20 Fortune 500 companies took part; this year, only nine did. RNS, 5-20

Some Gifts to Religion

Presbyterian Church USA received a $1.25 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to its Texas affiliate Grace Presbytery in support of efforts to better include neurodivergent children in the church’s culture of worship. The grant will establish Renewed Grace: Transforming Worship Practices with Neurodivergent Children, a project that aims to shift the culture of worship in Grace Presbytery—which comprises 130 congregations across 54 counties Texas.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that it awarded a total of $1.45 billion in 2024 in support of various programs around the world. The Caring for Those in Need: 2024 Summary highlights a $55.8 million global women’s health initiative, as well as 3,836 humanitarian projects in 192 countries and 6.6 million hours of service at church welfare and self-reliance facilities.

The Papal Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that supports Catholic causes around the world, has announced commitments totaling $14.7 million, including grants, scholarships, and humanitarian aid. Made public days after the death of Pope Francis, nearly $10 million in grants will be distributed to recipients selected in consultation with the Vatican, providing support to 118 projects in more than 60 countries.

Tips to Kickstart Monthly Giving

Especially now, in the current economic climate, monthly donors are among the most valuable supporters for nonprofits. They provide a reliable and steady source of income, often remain with an organization for several years, and have the potential to give larger amounts or even become legacy donors if managed well. Plus, at a time when many nonprofits are seeing an ongoing drop in small-dollar supporters amid increasing economic uncertainty, monthly giving is a smart way to bolster your group’s ability to weather turbulent financial times.

Here are tips to give your monthly giving program a boost.

Set up the systems and processes you’ll need.
Ensure you have technology available that can process recurring payments, whether it’s the same platform you use for all gifts or a tool integrated into your online donation form. You also need a donor database that allows you to separate these supporters from other types of donors and a system for managing their payments.

Find potential sustainers.
Examine your donor database. Individuals who have made multiple gifts in a year might be your best prospects for monthly giving, so invite them to contribute in this manner. While this approach works, it’s often slower than acquiring new donors who sign up for monthly giving from the beginning, whether you attract them through online outreach, canvassing, telemarketing, or another acquisition channel.

Promote monthly giving.
Highlight monthly giving to everyone in your orbit, including all the donors in your database — except those who are already sustainers — and to your followers on social media. Develop ways for people to choose monthly giving organically, such as adding that option to your online donation portal and to direct-mail appeals, while also actively seeking these supporters.

Ensure a positive experience for donors.
It’s important to provide excellent “customer service” to monthly supporters, including ensuring that your online giving platform allows them to easily cancel or change their gifts. Additionally, offer these donors a straightforward way to reach you if needed, such as an online contact form or a phone number.

Stay in touch.
Keep these donors informed about your work through communications such as impact reports and brief text-message updates. Offer ways to get involved beyond monthly giving, whether by signing a petition, attending an event, or volunteering. Consider using donors’ monthly receipts to express gratitude and provide an update on what their contributions help accomplish.

Don’t be afraid to ask for extra gifts.
Monthly donors enjoy contributing. Don’t hesitate to ask for additional gifts when you require them. COP, 5-2

We Know Faith-Based Organizations

For more than 35 years, Alexander Haas has been a fixture in the nonprofit community. We are honored to have worked with both large and small faith-based organizations, helping sow the seeds of compassion, hope and charity. Take a look at our list of religious congregation clients, past and present.

A Fresh Approach to Fundraising
Raising the funds to meet the mission and ministry needs of churches is becoming increasingly challenging. At Alexander Haas, we understand the challenges that congregations face in raising the funds to support their mission. More importantly, we understand how to overcome those challenges. We offer a variety of stewardship services for the unique needs of faith-based organizations.