Church Giving Trends: Growth in Digital & Recurring Donations

The 2025 State of Church Giving Report from Ministry Brands highlights church giving trends, revealing a resurgence in generosity across faith communities. For the first time in years, 51% of surveyed churches—both Catholic and Protestant—reported an increase in overall giving. The report also identifies key opportunities for churches to strengthen financial support by leveraging modern giving tools, such as recurring donations and digital wallets. While digital giving now makes up 42% of total donations, many churches have yet to fully embrace these technologies, despite their proven ability to encourage sustained generosity.

Key Findings from the Report:

• Recurring giving fuels generosity:

  • 42% of all digital donations now come from recurring gifts.
  • Churches offering recurring giving are twice as likely to see an increase in overall contributions.

• Digital wallets unlock new opportunities:

  • Donations via Apple Pay, Venmo, and other digital wallets doubled in 2024.
  • Younger donors are twice as likely to give when digital wallet options are available.
  • However, only 20-33% of churches currently offer digital wallet giving.

• Multiple giving options drive participation:

  • While 61% of churches saw an increase in digital giving, cash and checks remain steady, proving that digital methods enhance rather than replace traditional giving.

• Larger churches lead giving growth, but small and mid-sized churches show digital momentum:

  • 63% of large churches reported an increase in giving.
  • Small churches led in recurring giving adoption, while mid-sized churches drove the largest digital giving gains.

Simplifying Giving Increases Generosity

The report underscores that churches integrating giving tools with church management systems are 40% more likely to see an increase in donations. 64% of churches using Ministry Brands’ platform reported digital giving growth, compared to 45% of churches using other systems.

A Path to Sustained Generosity

Chris Bacon, CEO of Ministry Brands, emphasized that making giving seamless and accessible encourages greater participation. Churches that embrace digital tools and simplify donation processes will be better positioned to sustain their ministries, serve their communities, and inspire lasting generosity.

For more details on church giving trends, refer to the original article on BusinessWire.