Your non-givers have been famously dubbed the “80%,” based on the Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule. This so-called 80% supposedly gives only 20% of your church’s total giving.
As a team with deep experience in the church, we know … as you do … that your givers and “nongivers” don’t fall into the tidy groups the 80/20 rule might lead you to believe in. In fact, the rule could lead you to make assumptions that bring about the opposite results you’re aiming for as you try to encourage greater generosity.
For example, even asking the question “How do I motivate my 80% to give more?” reveals a subtle disrespect for your “non”-givers … and shows that you don’t really know them. (Even if they hang back initially, your members and guests connect to your church, ultimately, in order to be known.)
Giving isn’t a passive activity. But many churches unknowingly respond passively to online givers when they don’t take advantage of its potential for strengthening their bond with givers.
You could be unknowingly hindering your 80%’s generosity—and missing the perfect chance to connect with them—because of the 80/20 rule.
Are you ready to challenge your assumptions about:
80/20 comparisons are a thief in your ongoing mission to grow the spirit of giving in your church. How much do you know about your so-called 80%?
Download our whitepaper 4 False Assumptions Churches Can Make About Their Givers and learn more assumptions you might unknowingly be making.