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Year-End Giving Bulletin Insert: Wording and 2026 Deadlines

October 29, 2026 · LanternLetter Co.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, many members ask the same questions: “When is the last day to give for this year?” and “When will I get my giving statement?” A short, clear insert in the bulletin answers them once, in writing, and saves the church office a lot of phone calls. This guide covers the 2026 dates, what the insert should say, wording you can adapt at three lengths, and a simple timeline. It is not tax advice. Confirm every deadline with your treasurer, and point members with tax questions to their own adviser.

Key dates for 2026

Christ the King and the Sunday before Thanksgiving: November 22, 2026, a natural Sunday to say thank you first
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26
Giving Tuesday: December 1, 2026, if your church takes part
Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24
Last Sunday of 2026: December 27
Last day of the tax year: Thursday, December 31, 2026
Giving statements: many churches mail or email them in January, often by the end of the month

What the insert should say

Members mainly want to know how each way of giving is counted at year-end. Check these points with your treasurer, then print the answers plainly:

Offering plate and office drop-off: the last Sunday the plate is passed in 2026, and whether the office is open between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Checks by mail: under IRS rules, a check that is mailed counts as given on the date it is mailed, so a check postmarked by December 31 generally counts for 2026. A check handed in or mailed in January counts for 2027, even if it is dated December 31.
Online and card gifts: these are generally counted on the date the gift is made, so a gift made by 11:59 PM on December 31 belongs to 2026. Tell members which time zone your giving platform uses.
Stock and other non-cash gifts: transfers can take days. Set your own earlier deadline (many churches choose mid-December) and say who to contact first.
Gifts from an IRA: members aged 70½ or older may be able to give directly from an IRA through a qualified charitable distribution. The transfer has to be made by the IRA custodian directly to the church, so they should start early and talk to their custodian or adviser.
Statements: when statements will be sent, and who to contact if something looks wrong.

A change for 2026: deductions for people who don't itemize

According to the IRS, beginning with tax year 2026, taxpayers who do not itemize may be able to deduct up to $1,000 of cash contributions to qualifying organizations, or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Churches generally qualify. Many members take the standard deduction, so this may be the first year their giving could make a difference on their taxes. Mention it briefly and carefully, using “may,” and point people to the IRS page on charitable contributions or their own adviser rather than giving advice from the bulletin.

What a giving statement needs

For any single gift of $250 or more, the IRS requires the donor to have a written acknowledgment from the church that shows the amount and says whether the church provided any goods or services in return. Churches commonly state that no goods or services were provided other than intangible religious benefits. Your treasurer or church management software usually handles this wording, but it is worth checking the template before statements go out, and it helps to say in the bulletin when statements will arrive.

Wording you can adapt

A one-line bulletin note (from late November):

Year-end giving: gifts for 2026 must be made online or postmarked by Thursday, December 31. Questions? Contact [name] at [email or phone].

A half-page insert (early to mid-December):

Thank you for your generosity this year. Your gifts support [two or three real ministries, such as the food pantry, youth group and Sunday worship].
If you would like your giving to count for 2026, here is how gifts are dated:
Offering plate: last Sunday in 2026 is December 27.
Online giving at [link]: gifts made by 11:59 PM [time zone] on December 31.
Checks by mail: postmarked by December 31.
Stock or other non-cash gifts: please contact [name] by [date].
Giving statements will be sent by [date]. New for 2026: the IRS says people who take the standard deduction may be able to deduct some cash gifts. Please ask your tax adviser how this applies to you.

A final reminder (December 27):

Today is our last Sunday of 2026. If you plan a year-end gift, you can give online until midnight on Thursday, December 31, or mail a check postmarked by that day. The church office is open [days and hours] this week. Thank you, and happy New Year.

Tone and design tips

Say thank you before you ask, and name real ministries rather than figures you can't back up.
Never print individual amounts or names of givers.
Keep it to a half page. Use your Advent or Christmas design so it feels like part of the season, not a bill.
If you add a QR code, test it on two phones and make sure it opens the giving page directly. Print the web address too.
Use large, high-contrast type for dates and deadlines. Our large-print bulletin guide has sizes and contrast tips.
Repeat the same dates in your December newsletter and social posts, word for word.

Timeline

Early November: confirm deadlines, office hours and statement dates with your treasurer.
November 22: a thank-you note in the bulletin, with no ask. See our Thanksgiving bulletin ideas for that week.
November 29 to December 6: the one-line note, plus Giving Tuesday on December 1 if you take part.
December 13: the half-page insert, with your stock or non-cash deadline.
December 20 and Christmas Eve: keep it to one gentle line. Christmas Eve is for guests, so lead with welcome (see our Christmas Eve program guide).
December 27: the final reminder with office hours for the last week of the year.
January: send statements and a short thank-you, and note the date in the January bulletins.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for church gifts to count for 2026?

Thursday, December 31, 2026. Under IRS rules, a check mailed and postmarked by December 31 generally counts for 2026, and online or card gifts generally count on the date they are made. Stock and other non-cash gifts take longer, so churches usually set an earlier deadline.

Does a check dated December 31 count if the church receives it in January?

If it was mailed by December 31, it generally counts for 2026, because the IRS treats a mailed check as given on the date it is mailed. A check handed in or mailed in January counts for 2027, even if it is dated December 31.

Can people who take the standard deduction deduct church gifts in 2026?

According to the IRS, beginning with tax year 2026, taxpayers who do not itemize may be able to deduct up to $1,000 of cash contributions to qualifying organizations, or $2,000 if married filing jointly. Members should check with their tax adviser.

What does a church giving statement need to include?

For any single gift of $250 or more, the IRS requires a written acknowledgment from the church that shows the amount and states whether any goods or services were provided in return. Churches commonly state that only intangible religious benefits were provided.

When should we put the year-end giving insert in the bulletin?

A short note from late November, a half-page insert in mid-December, and a final reminder on the last Sunday of the year, which is December 27 in 2026.

Want the insert laid out for you?

On our done-for-you monthly plans, you send the wording and dates, and we lay out the bulletin each week in a consistent design, giving notes included. To see our work with your church's name on it first, get a free Advent cover (free for the first 40 churches through November 20), or browse the December newsletter and other templates in the shop. For where giving information fits in a weekly bulletin, see what goes in a church bulletin.