My friend, Dr. David King of the Lake Institute recently cited the work of Rene Bekkers and Pamala Wiepking.  Those authors did an exhaustive study of the science of generosity.  In their report, they discovered eight primary reasons that people give.  They are: Awareness of Need; Being asked; Benefits (things which you receive in return, subscription to a magazine, etc.); Altruism; Reputation – approval from others; Psychological Benefits – experiencing the joy of giving; Values – your own values align with the mission of an institution; and Efficacy – The perception that a gift makes a difference in the cause the donor believes in.  My hunch is that folks in your congregation have a mix of motivations for giving.  Which of these would you say are most prevalent in your church?  At the Foundation, we are seeking to encourage greater generosity by strengthening a deeper sense of gratitude for our many blessings.  Please let us know if we may be of service for you in strengthening giving.