Evangelical Giving Declines: Report Highlights Spiritual Connection

A recent report by Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts highlights a concerning decline in charitable giving among evangelicals, with significant implications for churches and charities alike. In 2024, 31% of evangelicals made no charitable contributions, either to their local church or outside charities, up sharply from 19% in 2021. This decline extends across all measured segments, including income levels, age groups, and attendance frequency.

The proportion of evangelicals donating to their local church dropped significantly from 74% in 2021 to 61% in 2024. Similarly, those contributing to both church and charity fell from 50% to 42%. Average contributions relative to household income also decreased, with evangelical donors giving just 3.3% of their income in 2024 compared to 4% in 2021. These findings suggest an overall decline in generosity and financial participation among the evangelical population.

The study further reveals that spiritual engagement plays a pivotal role in giving behaviors. Evangelicals actively practicing spiritual disciplines—such as daily prayer, Bible reading, weekly church attendance, and small group participation—are more likely to give generously. For instance, 91% of those with high spiritual engagement donated to their church, and 71% gave to both church and charity. In contrast, only 47% of those with little or no spiritual engagement contributed to their church.

Generosity levels were markedly higher among those who consistently engage in spiritual practices. Weekly small group attendance increased giving by 129%, daily Bible reading by 228%, and weekly church attendance by an impressive 434%.

Despite the decline in giving, the report emphasizes the critical role of fostering spiritual practices to encourage financial generosity within evangelical communities. Churches and leaders are urged to focus on cultivating deeper spiritual engagement to reverse these trends and strengthen community support.

Reference: For further details, see the original article on ChurchLeaders.