How Your Church Can Make the Most of GivingTuesday, With or Without a Capital Campaign

GivingTuesday, the global generosity movement, began in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. What started as a one-day event after Thanksgiving has grown into a worldwide celebration of generosity, inspiring hundreds of millions to give, serve, and share kindness.

For churches, GivingTuesday offers a unique opportunity to invite your congregation and community to live out their faith through generosity. Whether your church is in the midst of a capital campaign or simply seeking to strengthen its stewardship culture, this day can become a powerful moment of engagement and gratitude.

 

When You’re in a Campaign

If your church is currently conducting a capital campaign, GivingTuesday can amplify your message, energize donors, and reach new supporters. Here’s how:

  1. Connect The Movement To Your Mission
    Frame your campaign goals in the spirit of GivingTuesday. Remind people that your campaign isn’t just about dollars, it’s also about building God’s Kingdom. For example:
    “This GivingTuesday, we’re celebrating the generosity that’s helping us build our new ministry center which will serve our community for generations.”
  2. Invite Smaller, One-Day Gifts
    Encourage participation from those who haven’t yet pledged or given. A GivingTuesday emphasis on “every gift counts” helps broaden involvement. Even modest gifts can make people feel part of something bigger.
  3. Celebrate Generosity Publicly
    Share stories of gratitude and progress throughout the day on social media, in emails, or during a special midweek service. Highlight how generosity is already transforming your parish and thank your donors by name (with permission).
  4. Engage Volunteers & Ambassadors
    Empower a few campaign volunteers to champion GivingTuesday online. They can share personal stories, post photos, or issue small challenges (“I gave today, will you join me?”).

 

When You’re Not in a Campaign

Even without a capital campaign, GivingTuesday can be a meaningful and momentum-building event for your congregation.

  1. Focus On Service & Outreach
    GivingTuesday isn’t only about financial gifts. Invite members to serve at a local mission partner, write thank-you notes, donate food, or reach out to neighbors in need. These acts of kindness reflect Christ’s love in tangible ways.
  2. Encourage Designated Giving
    Pick one ministry, outreach, or cause to highlight for the day, such as your benevolence fund, youth ministry, or a local shelter. GivingTuesday’s visibility can draw new or lapsed donors back into giving.
  3. Share Stories Of Impact
    Use the day to tell stories of how your church’s generosity has made a difference such as families helped, lives changed, and ministries launched. These stories inspire gratitude and remind people of the “why” behind giving.
  4. Build Your Stewardship Culture
    Use GivingTuesday as a teaching opportunity by connecting generosity to discipleship in sermons, newsletters, or social posts. Reflect on passages like Acts 20:35 or 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, that emphasize that giving is part of faithful living all year long.

 

Keep The Spirit Going All Year

GivingTuesday may only last 24 hours, but its impact can ripple throughout the year. The goal isn’t just to raise money or meet a campaign milestone, it’s to nurture a culture of joyful generosity in your church community.

Encourage members to make generosity a habit, of time, prayer, service, and giving, so that your church becomes known not only for what it builds, but for how it gives.

 

“Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.”
~ GivingTuesday.org