We are going to use Rock's DataViews to identify people who are

  1. Involved in a Service Team or Small Group
  2. In a family that's never given before
  3. Who are new within the past 6 months

And automate an email to them about why give to church

Why do this?

For a non-giver, the first gift to church is another step in their spiritual journey. Our DataView will look for people who are in a small group or service team.

Objections

Our ideal recipient is active or semi-active in church, but hasn't given yet. But we don't have perfect data. Some people are giving by dropping cash in the plate. Other's are in the database as apart of a small group but haven't shown up.

To answer this objection, I think you'll find the email copy harmless to send to people who either giving cash or who aren't active anymore.

Steps

  1. Add a new System Email called "Ask person to give"
  2. Create a new DataView
  3. Use GroupSync to combine the DataView and the System Email

Add a new System Email called "Ask person to give"

Here's the Template:

Subject: Giving at {{ 'Global' | Attribute:'OrganizationName' }}

{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'EmailHeader' }}

<p>{{ Person.NickName }},</p>

<p>We want you to give for three reasons. The first reason-- all of our ministry is funded by the generous gifts of our members. We don't have a backup funding source if our people don't give.</p>

<p>The second reason is for you (and everyone)-- that giving is worship and a response to the grace of God in our lives. When we give, it elevates our soul to God and become more and more like Jesus Christ who came down from heaven to give his life for us.</p>

<p>The third reason is we believe the impact of your giving is maximized at the local church. Jesus didn't start a non-profit or a government to reach the world, he started a Church. And local churches are where life-changing ministry happens-- baptisms, Bible studies, worship, community, fellowship, equipping.</p>

<h4>How much should you give?</h4>

<p>Short answer: 10% of your income! That's what Christians have practiced for centuries. Long answer: there's no formula in the New Testament other than to support those who preach the gospel to you and God loves a cheerful giver. Each person and family should pray and discern how much to give. We deeply appreciate any amount you can give.</p>

<h4>You can give online!</h4>

<p>One way a lot of people give is online: <a href='{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'PublicApplicationRoot' }}/give'>{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'OrganizationWebsite' }}/give</a>. You can give one-time or recurring, with a card or your bank account.</p>

{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'EmailFooter' }}

PLEASE CUSTOMIZE THAT EMAIL FOR YOUR CHURCH. This email copy is designed to be so unspecific as to work for most churches.

[ ] Review the giving link. Right now it is {{ 'Global' | Attribute:'PublicApplicationRoot' }}/give, make sure that link points to your church. Feel free to remove the {{ 'Global' | Attribute:'PublicApplicationRoot' }} part and put in your church's website so that it now says https://yourchurch.com/give.

[ ] In the Rock System Email setup you can set a From Name or From Email, maybe you could send this from a particular pastor or staff member which would be more effective than the default church email. (Get their permission first!)

[ ] Edit the copy. My copy is generic. Add specific ministries that are funded by your church. Countries where you have missionaries, food pantry ministries, tell people the concrete

Create a DataView for "People in Small Groups or Serving Teams not Giving, Newish to Church"

  1. Name the DataView, probably something like "People in Small Groups or Serving Teams not Giving, Newish to Church" or shorter cause that's kind of a long name
  2. Choose a category
  3. Create a new DataView, Applies to Person, Filter Type -> Giving Amount -> Less than $1
  4. Click add Filter -> Filter Type -> Person Fields -> First Visit -> Range -> Previous -> 6 -> Months (feel free to set this to what you want. We are trying to not email people who've been at the church 5 years)
  5. Click Add Filter -> Filter Type -> Person Fields -> Email Preference = Email Allowed
  6. Click Add Filter -> Filter Type -> Person Fields -> Age Classification = Adult
  7. Click add Filter Group
  8. In the new Filter Group section, toggle the Show If: [Any|All] to Any
  9. Click Add Filter a. Filter Type -> In Group of Group Type b. Group Type -> Serving Team c. With Group Roles: Member
  10. Click Add Filter a. Filter Type -> In Group of Group Type b. Group Type -> Small Groups (whatever the top of your Small Group heirarchy is) c. With Group Roles: Member
  11. Save

Watch Screencast on creating this DataView

Use GroupSync to combine the DataView and the System Email

There's like 4 more steps that I cover in a separate Recipe:

Recipe to setup GroupSync

BEFORE YOU FINISH THE TUTORIAL

Don't just hookup the real DataView to the System Email without testing things.

How to test this

  1. Review the DataClip we made and browse the names. Does that look like the right data?
  2. Create a GroupSync group for testing this that's not the full DataView. Make a DataView of just you, or you and a few staff. Then make a Group that GroupSync's off that Dataview sending the email as the welcome email. Did you get the email? Does it look good? Do you like the copy?
  3. To force the email to go out quickly (like for testing), go to Admin Tools -> System Settings -> Jobs Administration, find the Group Sync job and run it.