Many people give regularly to charity by direct debit or standing order, but it’s a far less common mechanism for giving in churches. Many people would be willing to give by Direct Debit if the option was available.
Several online giving platforms, such as the Parish Giving Scheme, provide direct debit or regular giving services which allow givers to set up and amend their gifts easily.
Parish Giving Scheme
The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) manages one-off and Direct Debit giving and is designed to support churches to fund their mission and ministry. It reduces the burden of work on church volunteers and provides a simple and secure service to givers.
Gifts can be made to parishes through PGS via Direct Debit on a monthly, quarterly, annual or one-off basis.
Each gift is restricted to the parish or church chosen by the giver and will not be used elsewhere. The gift will be passed to the individual parish on the 10th of the month and eligible Gift Aid is sent automatically, once received from HMRC. A unique feature of the Scheme is the option for the giver to increase the value of their gift in line with inflation each year. This is an entirely voluntary decision, but one that may potentially have a huge impact of the life and future of the receiving church.
By processing regular gifts and Gift Aid on behalf of a church, PGS eases the administrative burden, and improves the predictability of cashflow. Parish Treasurers are able to stay informed through monthly statements that can be viewed securely online.
It’s really easy to give through PGS - speak to your church or go to the PGS website.
Giving Reviews
As well as encouraging new givers to sign up to Direct Debit or Standing Order, it’s good practice to invite existing givers to review their current levels of giving each year. Often, people will be willing to generously increase their contributions in line with inflation, or as their circumstances change. This can help ensure that giving levels are in line with the cost of your church’s mission and ministry.
Inviting givers to review is a great opportunity to remind them of the impact of their gift as well as to reiterate why you need them to give.
