Totals alone don't tell the story
A strong month can hide fewer people giving. A quiet month can just be summer. The trend and the number of givers matter as much as the total.
First-time givers
a sign of new people engaging
Regular givers
3 or more months of giving
Year over year
the fairest comparison
Trends worth watching
- Distinct givers: How many people gave, not just how much.
- First-time givers: People taking a new step of trust.
- Regular givers: People who gave in 3 or more months.
- Recurring gifts: Verified recurring schedules in Planning Center.
- Same season last year: Compare December to December, not December to July.
What it can look like
Giving TrendsIllustrative example
14
First-time givers
212
Regular givers
96
Recurring
Monthly giving vs. same month last year
Only people with finance access see this. Small groups of givers are combined for privacy.
Keeping it private
The usual way
- Export a full donor spreadsheet
- Email it to the team
- Individual amounts in many inboxes
With Ministry Lens
- Only finance-approved people see giving
- Small groups of givers combined for privacy
- Trends without exposing individuals
How Ministry Lens helps
Ministry Lens reads Planning Center Giving only when the church owner grants finance access to specific people. It keeps only totals and trends, never individual donor records, and never changes anything in Planning Center.
See your giving trends clearly and privately
Connect Planning Center Giving and choose who can see it. Your free trial includes every feature.