Stewardship and Giving Statistics for Churches

As we are conducting the 2024 Annual Stewardship Survey, we have reflected on a number of the statistics from the 2023 report. The following statistics are still very relevant to the overall state of stewardship and giving and can be useful guides as you consider the direction and progress of your financial stewardship efforts.

State of Religious Giving

Since 1984, individual giving has remained consistently around 2% of disposable personal income. While overall giving has remained constant, religion’s share of overall giving has dropped nearly 50%.

This critical information should be considered with every generosity planning session. 

Changes in Giving by Generation

As noted above, less giving is going to the church, but where is it going? It is being directed to education, faith-based organizations, nonprofit hospitals, etc.

Why? Conveying the obligation to give, the church’s legacy approach to generosity, used to work with Gen X and Boomers. Today, the need to see how gifts are applied (“impact”) extends across all generations. If your church only offers a general fund or a payment form without specific details of the good each fund is doing, chances are your members' generosity is being allocated elsewhere.

Debunking Generational Assumptions 

While considering the shift in giving away from religion, another important trend has surfaced: Millennials are leading generosity growth over Gen X and Boomers.

So despite their lower income base and false assumptions about their lack of engagement, younger generations are the future and should be an important part of your strategy. This doesn't mean ignoring today's top givers but supporting the financial stewardship journeys of tomorrow's top givers.

A Stewardship Role

Despite trending in a positive direction since the 2022 survey, in 2023 there were still a significant number of churches without a dedicated stewardship role.

Financial discipleship is a journey and requires guidance and ministry. If a dedicated stewardship role is not feasible, oversight and accountability can be achieved in other ways (sharing the responsibility, creating a part-time role, or enlisting a volunteer). Whatever form the role takes, clear standards, goals and responsibilities will all be keys to success.

Generosity Goal and Communication Disconnect

More than 60% of the churches surveyed in 2023 reported "inspire generosity" as their primary goal for the next 12 months. 

However, about ~70% of churches reported either random or infrequent generosity messaging as part of campaigns or holiday giving. Inspiring generosity in your members requires consistent and clear messaging that demonstrates how their money is making a difference in the church and community. 

Generosity Goals and Impact

Of the churches surveyed that reported being on track to meet or exceed their annual giving goals for 2023, over half reported that "demonstrating/communicating the impact of member generosity" was the primary influence on their success. This represents a growing awareness of the value of demonstrating the impact of giving. 

<--For more insights on these statistics and actionable recommendations to grow financial stewardship in your church, download the 2023 Annual Stewardship Report.