Digital Transformation Strategies Used by Church Leaders to Increase Revenues and Meet Budgetary Goals

Ineffective strategies to use digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals can negatively impact small rural church leadership capabilities. Small rural church leaders who struggle to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals are at high risk of business instability. Grounded in the diffusion of innovations theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective digital transformation strategies used by small rural church leaders to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Participants were eight small rural church leaders who had effectively used digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Small rural churches are churches that have fewer than 500 members and are not in a metropolitan area. Participants were eight small rural church leaders who had effectively used digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, and current and archival documents. Using thematic analysis, five key themes were identified: leveraging digital platforms, overcoming challenges, leadership and congregational engagement, financial management, and digital presence and visibility. The implications for positive social change include the potential for rural church leaders and nonprofit stakeholders to implement effective digital strategies that foster inclusion, bridge technological divides, and strengthen community resilience in underserved areas.