Recurring Giving
Recurring giving is an automated donation schedule — weekly, biweekly, monthly, or annually — where the donor authorizes the church to charge their card or bank account on a set cadence until they cancel.
What Does “Recurring Giving” Mean?
Recurring giving has become the single most impactful tool for church financial stability. Industry data consistently shows that recurring online donors give 30–50% more annually than occasional cash/check donors, and recurring donations level out the seasonal giving variability that hurts church cash flow (the historical 'summer slump' between Easter and the fall stewardship season).
Donors set up recurring giving once through the church's giving page, choosing card, ACH, Apple Pay, or another method, and selecting a cadence and amount. They can usually pause, change, or cancel through a member portal. PCI compliance requires the platform to handle stored payment information — meaning recurring donors typically need to re-authorize when a church switches giving platforms.
Biblical Basis
1 Corinthians 16:2 — "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income." Paul's instruction to set aside giving regularly maps directly to the discipline of recurring giving. The principle is rhythmic, intentional generosity rather than impulsive or sporadic donations.
How Different Denominations Use This Term
Modern evangelical and non-denominational churches strongly promote recurring giving and frequently see 40–60% of their giving come through it. Mainline Protestant churches with older membership often have lower recurring-giving adoption, with traditional pledge cards still common. UK churches use Bacs Direct Debit for recurring giving at significantly lower fees than card-based recurring giving in the US.
Practical Application
Promote recurring giving as the default option on your giving page. Make the cadence explicit (e.g., 'Give $50 every other week'). Show the annual equivalent ('that's $1,300/year'). Offer card and ACH side by side — ACH costs the church meaningfully less in fees. When switching platforms, plan a 4–8 week donor-communication campaign asking recurring givers to re-authorize on the new platform.
Related Terms
Online Giving
Giving & FinancesOnline giving lets church members donate via credit card, ACH bank transfer, or mobile app instead of cash or check — typically through a giving page on the church website or a member-facing app.
Tithe
Giving & FinancesA tithe is the practice of giving one-tenth of one's income to the church, rooted in Old Testament law and widely practiced across Christian denominations.
Pledge
Giving & FinancesA pledge is a formal commitment by a church member to give a specific amount of money over a defined period, typically used during annual stewardship campaigns or capital campaigns.
Giving Statement
Giving & FinancesA giving statement is the year-end record a church provides to each donor summarizing their total tax-deductible contributions — used by the donor for federal income tax deduction.
Related MosesTab Features
Tools that help your church put this into practice.
Compare Top Platforms
See ranked guides and tools related to recurring giving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about recurring giving
Yes. PCI compliance prevents transferring stored card numbers between platforms. A 4–8 week donor-communication campaign typically moves 70–85% of recurring donors to the new platform.