When pastors think about categorizing people in their church, too often we label two groups:
The Usual Labels: Involved vs. Not Involved
- Members and non-members.
- Contributors and consumers.
- Volunteers and non-volunteers.
Think about how often we make these simple distinctions. While easy to track, these divisions don’t help us inspire or equip people to take next steps.
We can (and should) have this same conversation for every aspect of church participation, but for today, let’s focus on giving categories.
The Problem with Basic Giving Categories
Like other church metrics, we often divide givers into two groups: Givers and Non-givers.
During my time at Woodstock City Church, I saw this firsthand. Our dashboard displayed a percentage of people “giving in any way.” I recall it being about 30%, though it may have been less. But that included a wide range of giving behaviors.
But here’s the issue: this oversimplification doesn’t help us understand where people are in their generosity journey or how we can help them grow.
Let’s break this down.
The Four Types of Giving We See in Church
Here are the most common ways people give:
- Tipping: Sporadic gifts tied to specific needs or emotions.
- Giving: Somewhat regular, but without a plan.
- Investing: Mission-focused and somewhat planned giving.
- Generosity: A lifestyle defined by stewardship.
Most/all giving fits within one of these four types.
So, Which One Is Our Goal?
As church leaders, our mission isn’t to increase revenue—it’s to go and grow: reaching the lost and growing the found. Discipleship is at the heart of this mission, and generosity should be a part of every believer’s spiritual growth.
That means we must shift away from the “givers” vs. “non-givers” mindset. Instead, let’s focus on a Generosity Journey that moves people step by step.
The Five Categories of Givers in Your Church
Categorizing your congregation’s giving behaviors into actionable groups can help you communicate more effectively and move people forward. After years of research and real-world implementation, I believe these five categories offer a practical and mission-focused framework:
1. Non-Givers
These are individuals in your active database who have never given to your church.
2. Emotional Tippers
Tippers give based on emotion or specific needs, but they lack a plan. They want to know why they should give and the impact their giving will have.
3. Ministry Givers
Ministry Givers feel connected to the church’s ministry and mission. While they give more regularly than Tippers, their giving still lacks a long-term plan.
4. Missional Investors
Investors have a giving plan and understand how their contributions support ministry. Though their plan may not be biblically rooted (priority, percentage, or progressive), they are intentional about supporting their church.
5. Kingdom Stewards
This is the smallest, yet most impactful group. Stewards view giving as an act of worship. Their lifestyle revolves around stewardship, understanding that everything belongs to God.
Your Giving Pathway Opportunity
With these five categories in mind, it’s time to develop a strategy. The goal? Move people from where they are to the next step in their generosity journey.
Consider how you communicate with each group. For example:
- How can you inspire Non-Givers to take that first step? (Here is one idea)
- How can you encourage Missional Investors to become Kingdom Stewards?
Look at your current communication channels, events, and giving opportunities, and see how they align with this new pathway.
Final Thoughts
Ignoring generosity in your church is akin to spiritual malpractice. We are called not just to create givers but to create disciples. And growing in generosity is a key part of spiritual maturity.
Take some time this week to consider how you currently categorize givers in your church and how well your approach aligns with your mission to make disciples.
Of course, if you need help implementing a generosity pathway in your church, I’m here to help. Let me know how I can serve you.
Call to Action:
- Free Webinar: Want to learn more? Join me this Thursday for a FREE WEBINAR: Funding Your Church’s Future: A Step-by-Step Guide to Planned Giving. [Register HERE].
- Join the Generosity Accelerator Course: Many of my church partners have implemented a funnel-based approach to move people along the generosity journey.
- Become an ACA Partner: Gain full access to hundreds of resources, including the Generosity Accelerator Course.
Quotes for Inspiration:
- “Generosity is not about what we give, but the heart behind it.”
- “A growing church is made up of growing disciples, and growing disciples are generous disciples.
