Church Fundraising: 8 Ways to Turn Contribution Statements Into More Donor Dollars

6. Include a comparison to previous-year giving to date.
People like to keep score. Even my preschooler, who participates in a soccer program that doesn't declare a winner or loser after each game, knows if his team won the game or not. The people in the pews are no different. It's easy to forget to tithe when you are traveling on business or vacation. Seeing my current-year giving next to my previous-year giving becomes a subtle reminder to be faithful with what God has freely given them.

7. Ask me to do something.
At the end of the letter, tell me exactly what you want me to do. You want each member to review the information, submit any necessary changes and/or make a gift. You can even include a statement on the reply envelope that indicates additional giving options such as online giving. (Note: You can add a sense of urgency to the reply envelope by printing a message like: "Please process this piece immediately." or "Immediate Attention Required.")

8. Include a postage-paid response envelope.
Include an already addressed reply envelope. For even better results, make sure the reply envelope is postage-free for the member. When I don't have to search for a stamp, it becomes an easy, quick decision. You don't want the mail piece to get shuffled into a pile where it will be lost forever. You want the member to act instantly without hesitation.

Ben Stroup is chief broker of opportunity at Generis and author of the Church Giving Matters blog, where this article first appeared.