The Mogiv Minute

By: Nathan Elson

The other day I walked into a church service and noticed on the two side screens a slide that read, “Please silence your phones.” The implicit idea behind the slide is simple: phones can be distracting and being distracted in church is not good. So I reached into my pocket to grab my cell phone…

Wait, this isn’t 2002. I no longer have a cell phone – rather I have a small computer with an advanced touch screen, constant Internet access, and a bevy of apps that fits in the palm of my hand. And the device was (literally) in the palm of my hand.

In working with churches around the United States, I am generally asked for advice on how to drive interaction between the church and congregants; how to build community; and how to maximize communication. I get questions about websites, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; about apps and email. All of which are good things.

However, most of the conversations center on how to drive interaction apart from Sunday. Because Sunday, you know, is Sunday. (more…)

After six years of consistent and considerable growth, the importance of online and mobile giving has now been firmly established. Yet for many churches and charitable organizations, the thought of introducing digital giving to their supporters is more than a little intimidating.

But it doesn’t need to be! Yes, it requires a bit of research and a bit of legwork, but a successful digital giving solution really comes down to getting three basic things right. Focus on the three things below, and you’ll be an e-giving expert in no time at all!

1)  The Right Platform

I could write an entire series of posts on this point alone. For our purposes today, lets just focus on the three essentials that any self-respecting online giving platform will include.

Scheduled giving: Online giving’s ability to transform one-time givers into consistent monthly “partners” can completely transform your organization’s finances. Your platform should make recurring giving a snap. The less time and fewer clicks required, the better!

Mobile integration: Mobile Internet usage is expected to overtake desktop usage by the end of this year. Your online giving solution needs to be a mobile giving solution as well. Giving apps, mobile optimized forms, text giving, something really cool we haven’t even heard of yet. It doesn’t have to be one thing, just make sure you’ve got something. 

Customization / Flexibility: How seamless does your platform integrate with your website? Does it allow you to easily create multiple giving campaigns? Can the reports be customized to your liking? Can givers easily control and modify their giving activity? Your fundraising needs are always changing and your platform should be able to change with them. (more…)

By: Rachel Cross

As a church,  it’s tempting to jump into the world of social media because…well…everyone’s doing it. Before you commit to a social presence, here are three questions you should ask yourself:

1. What are your goals for being on social media? For example, are you hoping to attract new visitors/attendees? Or, do you want a way to communicate with your existing members? What level of engagement do you want to see from any fans or followers? Do you want people to be able to engage in open discussion with each other, or do you want it to be more of a controlled conversation? Make sure these goals are clearly defined before launching your networks. (more…)

With Easter behind us and April nearly over, students and teachers around the country are beginning to check their calendars and count the days until the promised relief of another summer arrives.

Unfortunately, for many pastors and churches, the arrival of summer brings with it not only lazy days and carefree nights, but also some of the leanest giving months of the year.

The causes of the aptly named “Summer Giving Slump” are easy to identify. Families are out of town; seniors are hitting the road for the summer; and just about everyone is off of their regular routines. All of which point to an obvious solution: you need to provide your attendees with a way to give whether or not they’re actually with you on Sunday morning!

If you’re tired of sweating over your finances all summer long, online giving may be just the relief you’ve been looking for. Fortunately, with Mogiv, smoothing out the summer slump is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.  (more…)

While we don’t typically make a habit of sharing content created by our competitors, the “10 Things You Should Know About Online Giving” eBook produced by ServiceU is too good to keep to ourselves.

In only 13 pages, this resource succinctly addresses many of the most common objections to online giving, while also making a compelling case that online and mobile channels represent the future of giving to the church.

The entire document is certainly worth your time, but, if you’re looking for just the high points, below are a few especially insightful selections.

“It’s amazing that so many churches continue to resist the online, digital revolution taking place. It’s as if the pastor or church doesn’t acknowledge it, then it’s not happening or not true. So many church leaders fall into the trap of thinking that if they don’t use the internet for these things, then the people in the pew don’t either.” (more…)