Summer can be a challenging time for churches as many of their congregants are traveling and taking vacations, which can lead to lowered attendance. Fewer congregants often mean fewer donations, making it more difficult to cover expenses, fund essential projects like church repairs, and keep up with ongoing financial commitments. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help you ensure steadier funding for your church during the lean summer months.

Managing a church’s finances can often feel like a delicate balancing act. Congregational demographics are changing for churches across the country, and many people simply can’t afford to contribute as much to the collection plate as they may have in times past. Implementing effective long-term strategies can help you navigate financial challenges while managing church finances in these changing times.

As a church leader, you know that donations are essential to the success of your ministry. But what can you do to encourage your congregation to give more? And how can you ensure that your donations are used wisely?

We’ll share some ideas for increasing donations to your church, and how the money raised affects your annual financial planning. One way of guaranteeing a set amount of annual income is planned giving, which can help make your church sustainable for many years in the future. Read on to learn more, and consider planned giving as another way to raise money for your church.