By Cherylyn Wilson
Technology has changed how funds are collected for facilities-focused church capital campaigns. After all, one of the most critical components of any generosity campaign is making it easy to give.
New-school giving tools are available from many different providers. They range in features and price, but each meets members’
giving needs in a new — and convenient — way.
1) An online giving page. Many churches websites only show service times, the address and phone number. Adding an online giving page lets congregants give whenever they’re online — which, for most people,
is daily.
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For a facilities-focused capital campaign, start by looking for a solution that offers the flexibility to create unique giving pages for more than one purpose. (Some solutions charge extra for multiple giving pages and multiple categories for gifts.) Then, use your website to provide progress reports, pictures or blueprint plans for the new facility. This puts critical information at donors’ fingertips. And, they can see exactly where their money is going.
Look for a solution that allows for sponsorships, dedications, recurring gifts and pledges. Using a variety of donation options entices people to give in ways that are meaningful to them.
One easy way to drum up interest in your facilities-focused capital campaign is by a
llowing donors to dedicate their gifts in the names of loved ones. Set aside a wall in the new building to display donors’ names, as well as the names of those they choose to honor with their donations.
2) Giving kiosks. Giving kiosks are increasingly popular in church foyers. Whereas passing the plate is still a viable option for immediate gifts, kiosks make it easy for congregants to pay by credit or debit card instead of by check or cash. No longer will a forgotten checkbook or lack of cash prevent giving.
Set up dedicated kiosks in your foyer to highlight your facilities-focused capital campaign. Look for a provider that allows different options for earmarking each gift. Letting congregants give to a specific area of the new facility — the youth room, nursery, kitchen and so on — fosters a sense of ownership.
3) Mobile giving. It’s a good idea to spend some time making your church mobile-friendly. Get started by setting up your website and online giving page in this manner.
When choosing an online giving page provider, make sure it offers mobile-friendly pages that let congregants to go online using their smartphones 
and donate via your website, without added cost to
your church.
If the time and resources are available, consider a mobile giving app with a dedicated icon for the homepage of a smartphone or tablet. Look for a provider that offers a web-based giving app that allows you to make changes and edit your app from a webpage.
Since the web application is maintained by the provider, no coding knowledge is necessary to get it up and running.
Technology makes it easier for people to do what they’re already doing: giving. Make sure it’s easy to give to your facilities-focused capital campaign — online, at a kiosk, or by smartphone.
Cherylyn Wilson is a marketing communications specialist at The CashLINQ Group in Spokane, WA.
