A brand-new year is the perfect time to find new ways to incorporate generosity into your everyday life. No matter what 2025 has in store, you can respond to God’s call to give faithfully of your time, talent, and resources in all kinds of ways.
As we kick off the new year, here are some fresh ideas to help inspire you toward more intentional generosity:
1. Take inventory of what you have to give.
Take a few moments to consider what’s in your hand and make a list of your talents, time, influence, knowledge, and skills. If you need help, our Wealth & Resources Giving Strategy™ guide can get you started.
2. Name your “why.”
Carve out time to consider why you want to give. You can do this individually or with your family to come up with a list of reasons God calls us toward generosity. Our 10 principles of biblical generosity devotional is a good resource to use as you start.
3. Start a community garden.
If space allows, start a local community garden. You can plant anything from herbs and vegetables that you can share with those in need to flowers to offer someone who could use a pick me up.
4. Treat someone to a coffee or meal (anonymously).
As opportunity arises, treat someone else to a meal or a coffee. Consider paying for the person in line behind you or picking up the tab for a nearby table at a restaurant. It’s a simple way to spread generosity to those around you.
5. Use your words.
Offer a kind word, share a compliment, send a “thank you” card or speak encouragement over someone. You never know how God can use one simple word from you to make someone’s day better.
6. Create a prayer jar.
On slips of paper, write down the names of people you come across every day. These could be family members, friends, neighbors, church members, people you interact with in your community, or even the local barista who makes your coffee. Pull one name out of the jar every day and pray specifically for that person.
7. Listen to podcasts that inspire generosity.
As you’re on the go, plug into a podcast that speaks to the power of generosity at work. It’s a simple way to both educate you on new aspects of giving and inspire you toward generosity in ways you may not have considered. Check out our Generosity Library for episodes.
8. Support a single parent.
If you know a single mom or dad in your church or community, look for ways to help lighten their load. Offer to run errands, cook a meal, clean their house, or babysit for an evening to give them some much-needed support.
9. Offer your professional skills to a charity for free.
Consider what services you provide at your job that could be extended to a charity in need of the same. If you’re great with words, offer to write emails or newsletters. If you’re good with people, offer to talk to others on behalf of the organization. Start with charities you already know, and take a look at our giver stories page to see how others have used their skills on behalf of causes they care about.
10. Become a mentor.
Our wisdom and life experience can be some of the best things we can offer to someone else. Offer to meet regularly with someone who may need your voice in their life and lend an ear to support them as you walk alongside them this year.
11. Host a donation drive.
Contact local charities and ask what items might be helpful to the people they serve. Then, partner with others in your community or church to collect items to give to a local charity at a one-day donation drive.
12. Stock some blessing bags in your car.
Be prepared to minister to those experiencing homelessness by assembling bags of essentials. Pack them with things like bottled water, energy bars, clean socks, lip balm, subway tokens, and gift cards, and keep them ready in your car to hand out when you see someone in need.
13. Connect someone to counseling resources.
If someone you know is suffering from trauma, grief, depression, or anxiety, do what you can to help them find a Christian counselor to support them in this season. Good counseling can be expensive. If you can, consider offering to fund a portion of their services to help them get started.
14. Sponsor a college student.
Most college students are living away from home for the first time and managing the expenses and emotions that come with that. If your church has a college ministry, partner with them to support students by buying their books, offering ride-share gift cards, or opening your home to students regularly for a meal. You can also reach out to an on-campus ministry in your community to find ways to help.
15. Welcome someone new to your community.
Has a new neighbor moved in? Someone new to the community in your small group? Or maybe a refugee or international student recently relocated to your area? Look for ways to welcome them and get acquainted as they get established in your area.
16. Start a lunchtime prayer practice.
Set an alarm on your phone every day at lunch time. When it goes off, stop what you’re doing and offer a short prayer for someone you know is in need. You can even take the time to reach out to that person via text to let them know you’re praying and ask them if there’s a request they’d like to share.
17. Use your social media account for a good cause.
Social media often gets a bad rap, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for good. Share causes that matter to you on your social platforms. Talk about ways you’re inspired to give and how your favorite nonprofits are making a difference for good. Use your voice online to inspire others to greater generosity.
18. Give globally.
If you’re feeling led to give more globally, you can do that from your Giving Fund with TrustBridge Global. Search their Giving Space online to learn about opportunities around the world that have already been vetted.
19. Give something other than cash.
Want to make a big gift but don’t want to deplete your cash reserves? Consider a gift of stock, real estate, business interests or other assets as a way to give more to a cause or project you’re passionate about.
20. Recommend someone for an opportunity.
Do you know someone who would be a great candidate for a scholarship? An incredible small group leader? A new hire at your company? Use your relationships to recommend them for the opportunity and support them as they consider pursuing it.
21. Serve where the need is.
Instead of serving in an area that’s familiar to you, ask your church leaders where the biggest need is for volunteers right now. Then, show up and serve in that space for a season to help fill that gap.
22. Donate to a food bank.
As more and more people are experiencing food insecurity and homelessness, consider making a monthly gift to a food bank in your community. You can donate monetarily or by asking what food items are needed (or both!).
23. Take a prayer walk.
Get outside and walk around your community or neighborhood on a regular basis. When you do, spend that time in prayer for the people and places who live or work in your area. Make it a regular practice to prayer walk through those places throughout the year.
24. Visit someone in need.
Your time is an incredibly valuable resource to those who may be alone. Consider using some of your free time to visit with those in the hospital, nursing homes, or those confined to their own homes due to illness or injury.
25. Ask God to challenge you.
Step outside your comfort zone in giving and ask God to show you where or what he wants you to give in 2025. It’s a bold move that may require great faith but also produce a lot of joy!
Spread the joy of generosity right now by sharing this article with a friend.
