Trusted By Thousands: How the UMC Relies on Vanco to Sustain and Grow Generosity

At a Glance...

Hundreds of United Methodist Conference churches and affiliates use Vanco to manage finances

50 percent of churchgoers now give digitally (Vanco Church Giving Trends 2025)

“So many of our churches and affiliate organizations trust their finances to Vanco — and that speaks for itself.” – Kelly Schmeal, Relationship Director, GCFA

About the UMC General Council on Finance & Administration

vanco gcfa logos

The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) serves as the administrative and financial services hub for the United Methodist Church (UMC), one of the world’s largest Protestant denominations.

The GCFA’s mission is to provide churches with the tools and solutions they need to steward finances well so pastors and leaders can stay focused on their mission: making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.

Table of Contents

The Challenge
The Solution
The Results
Why It Worked
Data Insight
Next Steps

The Challenge

Here’s the thing: before partnering with Vanco, many United Methodist congregations had no online giving solution at all.

This created serious challenges:

Heavy reliance on cash and checks, making giving dependent on in-person attendance.

Limited stability in church finances, especially as engagement patterns shifted in recent years.

High demand for administrative outsourcing, leaving pastors and leaders bogged down in financial processes instead of mission.

The Solution

The GCFA has embraced Vanco's eGiving to provide churches with a proven, scalable solution for financial management and digital generosity built on:

Multi-channel online giving: A range of giving options (web, app, text) makes generosity possible anytime, anywhere.

Stability and consistency: A reliable platform that supports churches through seasons of disruption.

Engagement tools: These powerful resources help churches connect with givers both inside and outside the pew.

Trusted partnership: Vanco is now a recommended solution for UMC churches and affiliates starting up or upgrading their giving systems.

The Results

Here’s where it gets interesting: Vanco didn’t just provide a tool — it provided confidence.

Thousands of churches and affiliates now trust Vanco with their finances.

Churches gain the ability to stay afloat and thrive, even when in-person attendance declines.

New church plants have a ready-made solution for managing the complexity of finances from day one.

The GCFA can point pastors and leaders to a trusted, proven partner whenever financial needs arise.

Context

According to Vanco’ Church Giving Trends:

50 percent of churchgoers give digitally, up from limited adoption in many UMC churches just a few years ago.
Churches that promote online giving see a 32-percent increase in overall donations.

Why It Worked

Vanco's tools are built specifically for churches - and on years of experience serving churches of all sizes and denominations.

Built on the power of storytelling

Using the power of storytelling inspires generosity and a genuine connection with churches' missions.

Customizable – because one size doesn't fit all

Each church needs a giving platform tailored to its unique needs and composition.

Relevance in changing times for churches

Online giving remains crucial as “people view church differently” and engagement extends beyond the pew.

A trusted partner with a proven track record

Endorsement from the GCFA gave churches the confidence to implement Vanco quickly.

Data Insight

Did you know? Recurring online givers donate 120 percent more than non-recurring givers. (Vanco Church Giving Statistics 2025)

That’s why churches adopting Vanco don’t just survive — they build long-term stability. Leaders know what income they'll have each month and that helps them ensure the right funds go to the ministries that need them most.