Sharing your giving
Giving announcements for church: scripts and templates to use this Sunday
Giving announcements for church, ready to copy: what to say on Sunday, launching online giving, Gift Aid reminders, appeals, thank-yous and social posts.
The short answer
A good giving announcement is short, warm and specific. Thank people first, say in one sentence what giving makes possible, show exactly how to give (with the QR code on the screen), and mention Gift Aid. Thirty to sixty seconds is plenty. Below are scripts to copy and adapt for an ordinary Sunday, launching online giving, Gift Aid, an appeal and a thank-you, plus wording for your notice sheet and social media.
What makes a good giving announcement?
- Start with thanks, not need. People give more gladly when they know their giving is noticed.
- Be specific. “Your giving paid for 40 food parcels last month” lands better than “we rely on your generosity”.
- Show how, don’t just tell. Put the QR code on the screen while you speak, and leave it up.
- Keep it short. Thirty to sixty seconds. A few words every week do more than a long talk once a year.
- Welcome every way of giving. Cash, envelopes, standing orders and online are all part of the offering.
- Never pressure visitors. Say plainly that guests are welcome to let the plate pass by.
An everyday script for Sunday
“As we come to our offering, thank you. Your giving is how we [run the food bank / support our youth work / keep these doors open] week by week. If you give by cash or envelope, the plate is coming round. If you’d like to give online, scan the code on the screen. It takes a few seconds, and if you’re a UK taxpayer you can add Gift Aid at no cost to you. And if you’re visiting us today, you’re our guest: please don’t feel you need to give. We’re just glad you’re here.”
Launching online giving
“We’ve got some good news about giving. Many of us don’t carry cash any more, so from today you can give to [church name] online, on your phone, in just a few taps.
Let me show you. Scan the code on the screen, or on the cards in your seat. You’ll see our giving page. Choose an amount, choose whether it’s a one-off gift or a regular one, and give with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. That’s it.
If you’re a UK taxpayer, tick the Gift Aid box and the government adds 25p to every pound, at no cost to you. You can even choose to cover the card fee, so every penny reaches the church.
Nothing else changes. The plate will still come round, and standing orders and envelopes carry on as before. This is simply another way to give. If you’d like help setting it up, [name] will be at the back after the service.”
A Gift Aid reminder
“A quick word about Gift Aid. If you pay UK income tax, you can make your giving worth 25% more without it costing you anything extra: the government adds 25p to every pound you give. You just need to fill in a short declaration once, online or on a form at the back. If you give regularly and haven’t done this, it’s one of the most helpful things you can do for the church this year. Thank you.”
An appeal for a specific project
“An update on our [roof / kitchen / mission partner] appeal. Together we’ve given £[amount] so far, towards our target of £[target]. Thank you. That’s [one concrete thing it means].
We have £[remaining] still to go. If you’d like to give, scan the code on the screen. It takes you straight to the appeal, so your gift goes to exactly this. Every gift helps, whatever its size.”
Saying thank you
“Before the notices, a thank you. This year your giving [paid for our youth worker / welcomed 120 families at the toddler group / kept the building warm and open]. None of that happens without you. Whether you give by envelope, standing order, online or in the plate, thank you. It matters more than you know.”
Notice sheet and newsletter wording
Giving to [church name]
Thank you for your generosity. You can give online at [web address] or by scanning the QR code. Choose a one-off or regular gift, and UK taxpayers can add 25% with Gift Aid. Prefer a standing order or envelopes? Ask [name] or email [email].
Thank you for giving
This month your gifts helped us [one specific thing]. If you’d like to give, or set up a regular gift, you can do it online in a minute: [link]. If you pay UK tax, please tick Gift Aid; it adds 25% at no cost to you. Thank you for all you give, in every way.
Social media posts
Thank you to everyone who gives to [church name]. This week your generosity [one specific thing]. 💚 Want to be part of it? Give online in a few taps: [link]
We’re [amount] towards our [project] appeal: thank you! Just [remaining] to go. Every gift helps, whatever its size: [link to appeal]
How to talk about giving without making people uncomfortable
Most of the discomfort around money in church comes from feeling pressured or judged. A few habits help:
- Talk about generosity as part of faith and discipleship, not as fixing a budget gap. As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 9, “God loves a cheerful giver.”
- Talk about giving regularly, a little and often, so it isn’t only mentioned when there’s a crisis.
- Be open about the church’s finances: what it costs to run, and where the money goes.
- Invite people to decide for themselves what to give, rather than suggesting a figure.
- Let people give privately. Nobody should be able to see who gave what, except those who need to keep the records.
Questions people ask
How often should we mention giving in church?
Briefly, most weeks, at the offering, and in more depth once or twice a year. Short, regular, grateful mentions work better than an occasional long appeal.
Who should give the giving announcement?
Anyone who can speak warmly and briefly about it: the minister, the treasurer or a member of the congregation. A short personal story from someone who gives can be especially powerful.
Should we show the QR code during the offering?
Yes. It lets people who give online take part at the same moment as those giving cash, and it’s the best reminder you have.
What should we say to visitors?
Tell them plainly that they’re guests and don’t need to give. It’s kind, and it makes giving feel like a choice for everyone else too.