Three Ways to Engage the Millennial Giver in Your Church.

Today, Millennials are the demographic on the top of most organizations’ priority list. It’s no surprise that brands are reinventing the way they market in order to reach the fastest-growing generation in the workforce and marketplace, and officially, the nation’s largest living generation. The Millennial generation, which comprises those born between 1981 and 1997, grew up more digital, open-minded and information-hungry than any previous generation.

They are more connected than ever before — except to faith. Twenty-five percent of American Millennials are unaffiliated, describing their religion as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” This percentage is double that of Baby Boomers as young adults in the 1970s.

While there is urgency, there is also hope. Though increasingly disconnected with the church, they are still the fastest-growing demographic in your church, and their generosity and desire as a generation to connect with and give to causes they care about demonstrates their potential to connect — and give — to you. The 2015 Millennial Impact Report found that 84 percent of employed Millennials donated to a charity in 2014.

There is no mistaking that they are, and must be, the future of your church in attendance and giving. As older generations near retirement, and face financial insecurity from medical concerns and fixed incomes, your church’s current income streams may decline. As that happens, Millennials will continue to grow in skills and talents that make them higher earners. Millennials will be the main source of funding for your church.

"It is crucial for churches to employ strategy; but to truly engage the Millennial giver, we must engage their hearts in a cause like no other: Knowing Jesus and making Him known."

These three principles will refocus and realign your efforts to engage the Millennial giver: 

#1: Cause

CAUSE TIP: Marinate your church in stories about life change from your ministries. Mission statements and budgets fail to capture the heart. Without a heart-capture, generous giving (from any generation) is unlikely. Demonstrate concrete life results through your project and church.

#2: Convenience

CONVENIENCE TIP: Use your offering moment to showcase how to give digitally. The more we “normalize” the practice, the more inclined people will be to give it try.

#3: Conviction

 See Also: A Generous Heart Belongs to a Mature Believer

CONVICTION TIP: Church leaders engage in discipleship by emphasizing and remembering the supremacy of Christ in all of our life affairs, including finances. How we respond to the character of God reveals and molds how we live. The faith and finances conversation is essential to caring for people’s hearts and spiritual maturity.

The primary goal of developing a generous spirit among Millennials in your church is developing their spiritual maturity. The secondary goal is to financially resource your church mission. If we treat Millennial’s hearts like a caring shepherd (the first goal), engaging them in funding the mission actually comes more easily (the second goal).

 If you would like to speak to a Generosity Strategist, click below to schedule a meeting today! 

This article was compiled by some of the experienced guides at Generis. To learn more about Generis’ passion to partner with ministries on giving projects with God-sized vision and Kingdom implications, please visit generis.com.