It’s been a really active year for new features on Clover, and we want to make sure that you know about all the new options! From video backgrounds that make your website more eye-catching to new integrations that make your experience more seamless and save time, we've been busy using your feedback to develop improvements so your church website can be used to achieve ministry results.

We all understand that financial stability is crucial to the health of the church. That’s why, as technology evolves, it’s important that your church’s ability to offer convenient tithing options evolves, too. Enter, Text-to-Give.

Does your church worry about seasonal fluctuations in contributions? Do you struggle to maintain a consistent stream of monthly revenue from tithes? If so, you’re not alone. Many churches are affected by lulls in giving and are constantly looking for ways to better forecast their budget. In fact, 86 percent of churches still don’t meet their annual budget goals. When you boil it down, that means 43 out of 50 churches aren’t raising enough funds during the year to support all the activities, missions, and events they need to propel their ministries forward. So, what could the other 14 percent be doing differently to reach their goals? It’s simple. They’re offering monthly recurring giving.

  It’s the start of a new year at your church. That means new programs, new ministries, new events, new sermons, and new people to meet and serve in your congregation. All that’s good news, right? But in order for all those exciting things to happen at your church, it requires you to also do one more new thing at your church this year: create a new budget. Now, the thought of that may have you feeling a little like this….

  We’re fast approaching the end of the year, people! It’s amazing how fast a year goes by! The new year is peering around the corner, but first we have to make sure we handle the busy, year-end season at our respective churches. There are a lot of things that permeate the air during the year-end season, but one of the most prominent sentiments is generosity.

  We’ve got two words for you… Capital campaign. You know what we’re talking about, right? That clearly defined season at your church that’s designated to raise money for a specific ministry. Those two words probably evoke one of two reactions from you as a church leader… You’re excited about the possibility. You’re overwhelmed with dread. Honestly, we understand both! No matter how you feel about capital campaigns, here’s the truth: they’re probably a necessary part of life at your church. Creating a calendar for raising money at your church is huge! Think about it… For starters, without a designated and organized effort, it’s hard to gain momentum. Next, people understand campaigns. They recognize that campaigns have both a start and end date. In other words, they know that your church is asking for money specifically for this season. Campaigns allow your church to increase its focus and energy around your church budget for a short period of time. So whether you’re raising money for a specific fund, vision, building expansion, staff hire, or new ministry, we want to help make your capital campaigns both simple and successful. To do that, walk with us through the three phases of a great capital campaign…

Finances represent one of the biggest struggles people in your congregation are dealing with… People don’t have enough money. People don’t know what to do with the money they do have. We all can relate, right? We all  want to manage our money wisely and be good stewards of what we’ve been given. But how? That’s just one of the millions questions people have when it comes to money.

As a church leader, one of the trickiest things to navigate is the conversation about giving at your church. Why? Well, for starters, it’s awkward… Too many churches have a reputation of constantly asking for money. And although we all know that isn’t true of every church, we also feel that tension every single time we stand up in front of our congregation and ask them to support our ministry by giving.

Question: who actually calls people on the phone anymore? Answer: Nobody! I mean, think about it! When was the last time you actually chose to make a call instead of sending a text? If you’re anything like me, your face looks a little like this when your phone actually rings: