Churches raised $135.78 billion in 2021.

Churches in the U.S. received 27% of all donations in 2021.

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults are digital donors.

An average congregation records a yearly income of $242,910.

Congregations in the U.S. collect around $74.5 billion each year.

Nearly 50 percent of all donations to churches come from credit cards or other electronic means, 40 percent is given by means of cash. Sixty percent are willing to give to their church digitally.

Churches that accept tithing online see a 32% increase in overall donations;

Thirty-seven percent of regular church attendees don’t give money to church.

What is the average giving per person in church? Studies show that churches of different sizes see different per-person giving rates. The larger the church, the smaller the rate of per-person giving both weekly and annual donations. For example, ChurchSalary found that churches of 50 people saw $2,589 as average annual per-person giving, while churches of 5,000 in attendance reported an average annual per-person giving of $2,340.

Lower rates of giving at larger churches make sense when you keep in mind that 37% of churchgoers do not give money to their church. As attendance increases at a church, the number of people who do not give to that church will also increase.

• 5% of churchgoers tithe regularly;

• 50% of those who donate give about 2% of their income;

• Regular attendees give $1,737 more per year than those who attend less than once a month;

• Giving USA™Key findings from Giving USA 2024: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2023, reports that individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $557.16 billion to U.S. charities in 2023.

• Average charitable donations by income: The average charitable donation is $2,588 for those making less than $50,000 per year, $3,305 for those making $100,000 to $500,000 annually. (The Giving USA 2024 Report)

People give to their churches and charities out of what they have available to give. Americans don’t give out of what they don’t have. Americans don’t give more than what they have. They give out of what they have. Churches and non-profits are expected to do their work on what they receive from donations and or from the work they conduct. When their money is spent then they are on their own until more is received. 

Many Americans give what they can based on the need and their emotional connection to the church or charity. People give based on what they see as the need for their response. If there is no emotional feeling for the entity or the cause there is most likely very little to no financial support. 

For example, Kamala Harris has raised over $1 billion since entering the presidential race. No presidential candidate has ever raised so much so fast. Former President Donald Trump has raised about $350 million. 

President Job Biden had raised over $600 million before he dropped out of the race.

Americans are intensely interested in the direction of our country and are giving accordingly. 

Who will you make your next donation to, and why?

—  Dr. Glenn Mollette is an author and his column is published in over 600 publications in all 50 states.