The State of Church Giving through 2003 – Chapter 1 Highlights

Chapter 1 Highlights

  • Overall, members donated a smaller portion of income to their churches in 2003 than in 1968.
  • Per member giving as a percentage of income to Total Contributions declined from 3.11% in 1968 to 2.59% in 2003, a decline of 17% in the portion of income donated to the church from the 1968 base.
  • U.S. per capita Disposable (after-tax) income increased 111% in inflation-adjusted dollars, from $12,510 in 1968 to $26,449 in 2003. However, Total Contributions only increased 76%, from $388.82 to $683.75.
  • Congregational Finances, the subcategory of Total Contributions that funds local operations, decreased as a portion of income from 2.45% in 1968 to 2.21% in 2003, a decline of 10%. Although sporadic from year to year, a general increase in giving to Congregational Finances began in 1993. By 2003, giving as a portion of income to this category had recovered to the level of 1973 and 1974.
  • Benevolences, the subcategory of Total Contributions that funds the larger mission of the church beyond the local congregation, decreased 42% as a portion of income, from 0.66% in 1968 to 0.38% in 2003. The 2003 level of giving to Benevolences as a percent of income was the lowest in the 1968-2003 period.
  • Benevolences, the subcategory of Total Contributions that funds the larger mission of the church beyond the local congregation, decreased 42% as a portion of income, from 0.66% in 1968 to 0.38% in 2003. The 2003 level of giving to Benevolences as a percent of income was the lowest in the 1968-2003 period.
  • In 1968, 21¢ of every dollar donated was allocated to Benevolences. By 2003, 15¢ of every dollar went to Benevolences. Of each additional inflation-adjusted dollar donated to the church between 1968 and 2003, 94¢ went to Congregational Finances.
  • If the portion of income donated to the church had not declined between 1968 and 2003, congregations and denominations would have had, in aggregate dollars, 72%, or $2.2 billion more for Benevolences, funding the larger mission of the church, than the amount actually donated in 2003.