Online giving is no longer optional for churches that want to maximize generosity. Studies show that churches with online giving consistently receive 30–40% more in total donations than those relying solely on the offering plate. The good news: getting started is far simpler than most church administrators assume. Here's how to do it in under an hour.
Why Online Giving Increases Generosity
Modern givers expect digital options. When a family misses church due to illness or travel, they should still be able to tithe. When someone feels moved to give during a sermon but doesn't carry cash, a simple tap on their phone should make it possible. Removing friction from giving removes the #1 barrier to generous giving: inconvenience.
Step 1: Choose Your Platform (10 minutes)
HolyJot integrates directly with Stripe — the same payment infrastructure used by Amazon and the New York Times. No separate giving platform subscription required. Your Stripe account connects to your HolyJot church portal in minutes. You'll need:
- A free Stripe account (stripe.com)
- Your church's EIN (tax ID number)
- A bank account for deposits
Step 2: Connect Stripe to Your Church Portal (5 minutes)
In your HolyJot church admin panel, navigate to Giving → Setup. Click "Connect Stripe" and follow the OAuth flow. You'll be redirected to Stripe, prompted to log in or create an account, and redirected back. That's it — your giving gateway is live.
Step 3: Create Your First Giving Campaign (10 minutes)
Set up a General Fund campaign as your default. Add:
- A campaign name and description
- An optional goal amount (great for building campaigns)
- A cover image
- Suggested giving amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250, other)
Enable recurring giving so members can set up automatic weekly or monthly tithes. Recurring givers typically give 42% more annually than one-time givers.
Step 4: Announce It to Your Congregation (15 minutes)
Draft a short announcement for Sunday morning and your email list. Keep it simple: "You can now give online from your phone or computer any time. Visit [your portal URL] or text the link to a friend." Remove any shame around discussing giving — present it as a convenience upgrade, not a fundraising campaign.
Step 5: Enable Automatic Receipts
HolyJot automatically generates tax-deductible receipts for every transaction. At year-end, you can export annual giving statements for your entire congregation in seconds — saving dozens of hours of administrative work.
The Bottom Line
Setting up online giving is a one-hour investment that pays compounding dividends for years. The first month you launch online giving, give your congregation two Sundays of gentle reminders, and watch the difference. Most churches see immediate, sustained increases in total giving within the first 30 days.