Case Study: ELCA South Carolina Synod maximizes giving and simplifies donation management with Tithe.ly

South Carolina Synod Maximizes Giving Through Denominational Partnership

The ELCA South Carolina Synod — a network of more than 150 congregations overseen by communications director Neal Fischer and stewardship director Ozzie Herlong — needed a consistent, cost-effective way to expand giving options, support varied congregational needs, and reduce the administrative burden of managing multiple donation platforms. Their challenge was to find a vendor and system that was easy to use for leaders with differing technical skills, could be customized for many event types, and would help increase and simplify online giving across the synod.

The synod partnered with Tithe.ly as its preferred giving platform, running stewardship workshops, providing a dedicated sign-up landing page with ELCA transaction discounts, and hosting quarterly support sessions. Tithe.ly’s customizable mobile app and strong customer service led to an immediate increase in online donations, streamlined administration, lower fees for congregations, and successful campaigns like Gifts of Hope — benefits the synod and its congregations continue to rely on.

ELCA South Carolina Synod

Ozzie Herlong

Director for Stewardship