How One Church Gave Away Their Easter Offering and Ignited a Giving Explosion

Jimmy Barker — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:23:15 +0000

Hosanna Church wanted to do something big for Easter. No one could’ve predicted what happened next.

Easter is one of the most attended Sundays of the year, and Hosanna Church in Minnesota wanted to make a bold statement with the offering collected that Sunday: They would give all of it away.

The leadership at Hosanna Church decided to divert Easter Sunday’s offering to four ministry partners: Two organizations restoring people from drug addiction in their community and two gospel-focused nonprofits based in Haiti.

It seems so radical to give away the Easter offering. Who does that, right? (But) We were hearing that people were inspired. They were proud to be a part of something like that. It inspires their giving.

Jennifer Ford
Executive Director of Ministries, Hosanna Church

An Unforgettable Easter Sunday

At the same time Hosanna Church was planning their big Easter giveaway, they were also looking for a new online giving solution. Their existing platform was too cumbersome for staff and too confusing for church members. After a rigorous search for a new giving partner, Hosanna Church selected Pushpay for their professionalism and usability.

+66%

Increase in giving from the previous year’s Easter Sunday

After months of behind-the-scenes prep work, Hosanna Church went into Easter Sunday not knowing what would happen. They need not have worried.

With Pushpay’s giving platform successfully implemented just a month before, the church’s giving campaign raised more than $200,000 on Easter. Today, “weekend offering giveaways” are a recurring event at Hosanna Church.