5 Ideas for Beating the Summer Giving Slump
“God never estimates what we give from impulse. We are given credit for what we determine in our hearts to give—for the giving that is governed by a fixed determination.” – Oswald Chambers
Helping our people experience the timeless truth of moving from impulsive, haphazard giving to systematic and joyful giving is a continuous process.
We see this in Paul’s writings:
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”
(1 Corinthians 16:2)
Summer is an excellent time to reinforce this principle in the hearts of your people in a way that is both inspiring and instructive. Here are five ways to leverage the summer slump to train and motivate your people toward consistent, heartfelt giving.
1. Get Better at Vision Casting on All Levels
Kennon Callahan writes, “A clear vision of mission will be decisive in fostering your congregation’s capacity for giving.” Vision is always asking the whys, not the hows. A compelling vision moves people on a heart level and makes sense on a head level. Crafting your vision through multiple mediums is critical.
How are you at telling your vision?
Preaching, 2-minute giving talks, State of the Church updatesHow are you at writing your vision?
Newsletters, membership letters, leadership briefingsHow are you at showing your vision?
Videos, testimoniesHow are you at celebrating your vision?
Give-and-serve moments, leadership celebrations
2. Manage Your Cash Flow Properly
Understanding your church’s giving rhythms is essential. Maintaining 120 days of expenses in reserves provides peace of mind. Stressful, last-minute appeals rarely produce the results you want. They can even harm your culture.
Avoid creating a perception that the church only talks about money when it’s in need. Need-based appeals reduce your vision to paying bills instead of changing lives.
Spending freezes and mid-course corrections are better uses of leadership energy. This approach lets you address giving as a spiritual formation issue—not a financial emergency.
3. Send Out Quarterly Giving Reports
The purpose of quarterly giving statements is to deepen the sense of ownership across the church. Each giving letter should include:
A well-written vision update and thank-you
A giving statement
A brief teaching on tithing, generosity, or ways to give
Helpful tools:
Sample letter: S_2_Summer_Giving_Email
4. Spend Focused Time with the 20% Who Give 80%
Many pastors hesitate to engage deeply with their core givers due to concerns like:
Fear of favoritism
Personal insecurity
Intimidation by wealth
My response? Grow up, Pastor. As Paul wrote, “Act like men.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Investing time in your generous givers is not favoritism—it’s wisdom. One pastor I know regularly meets with his top givers to ensure they’re serving in roles aligned with their gifts.
If you don’t trust your heart, confess that and seek accountability. Wealthy people need spiritual shepherding too. I once visited a couple—he had one of the top 50 salaries in the state—and the wife told me, “You’re the first pastor who’s ever visited our home.”
Ask yourself:
How can I invest relationally in my leaders this summer?
How can I invest spiritually?
What can I do to deploy or redeploy them into meaningful service?
5. Help People Automate Their Giving
If your church doesn’t offer online giving, you're already 10 years behind. Not having options like automated giving or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) limits your ability to connect with the next generation.
Every first-time giver should receive a “Ways to Give” document.
Consider dedicating one month each year to promote:
“Let’s Go Green in Our Giving”—through emails, letters, announcements, and giving talks.
Resources:
Free download: 10 Things Your Church Should Know About Online Giving
Bonus Tip: Don’t Give in to the Summer Slump Mentality
Keep the vision and mission red-hot through creative, strategic outreach. One summer, our church hosted a Friends Sunday that surpassed our Easter attendance—and launched us into a record-setting fall.
Remember: A vision slump always leads to a giving slump.
