What Americans Give to Churches, Charities & Foreign Missions

Photo Credit: borman818

Here are some interesting statistics from Christianity Today regarding giving patterns of Americans as it pertains to charities, foreign missions and churches:

"Churches and other explicitly religious organizations are by far the largest recipients of Americans' charitable donations. But church members' giving is decreasing in the recession, especially as a percentage of income. The amount of church-based giving that goes to missions is also decreasing significantly. From 1916-1927, about 7.9% of church contributions went to foreign missions; today it's 2.1%. (From Empty Tomb, Inc.)

Total charitable giving in the U.S. (unadjusted for population or income) dropped by about 3.6% in 2009, though individual giving stayed steady from 2008. (From Giving USA)"

Tithing

• 1968 - The average percentage of income given to churches was 3.11%
• 1985 - The average percentage of income given to churches was 2.59%
• 2008 - The average percentage of income given to churches was 2.43%

Overseas Missions Giving
How much of each selected denomination's church dollar goes to international ministries? (From Empty Tomb, Inc.)

• 11 cents - Christian Missionary & Alliance
• 6 cents - Church of the Nazarene; General Association of General Baptists
• 4 cents - Seventh Day Adventists - North America; The Wesleyan Church, The Presbyterian Church in America
• 2 cents - Southern Baptist Convention; The United Methodist Church
• 1 cent - Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Presbyterian Church (USA); The Episcopal Church

Beyond Church Giving
Americans gave 303.75 billion in 2009. Three quarters of it came from individuals. Here's where the money went (From The Chronicle of Philanthropy):

• Religion (33%)
• Education (13%)
• Gifts to Grant Making Foundations (10%)
• Unallocated Giving (10%)
• Human Services (9%)
• Public-Society Benefit (8%)
• Health (7%)
• Arts, Culture & Humanities (4%)
• International Affairs (3%)
• Environment/Animals (2%)
• Foundation Grants to Individuals (1%)

As these numbers can attest, Americans give billions each year to their local churches, favorite charities and other worthy causes. However, the richer we have become as a nation, we've given a smaller percentage of our income to that which has eternal significance.  Perhaps an appropriate question to ask ourselves is not how much we give but how much do we keep?