While Evangelical Protestants are defying national giving trends by donating an average of 6.15% of their income, far above the 2.5% national average, a deeper look reveals that charitable giving varies dramatically across all religious traditions in America.
Key Takeaways
- In 2020, Evangelical Protestants in the US donated an average of 6.15% of their household income to all charitable causes, significantly higher than the national average of 2.5%
- Evangelical households gave $1,200 more per year to charity in 2018 compared to non-religious households, according to a Barna Group study
- 72% of Evangelicals tithed (gave 10% or more) in 2022, per Lifeway Research, versus 24% of all US adults
- In 2021, Mainline Protestants donated an average of 3.2% of income to charity, below Evangelicals but above Catholics
- Mainline households gave $850 annually to churches in 2019, per Empty Tomb
- 45% of Mainline Protestants tithed in 2022, down from 52% in 2010, Lifeway
- In 2018, US Catholics donated 1.8% of income to all charities, lower than Protestants overall
- Catholic households gave $1,020 avg to parishes in 2022, per CARA
- 33% of Catholics tithed in 2021, vs 10% national avg
- In 2020, Jewish Americans donated 2.7% of income to charity, highest among major groups excluding Mormons
- Jewish households gave $2,500 avg annually in 2019, per Connected to Give
- 76% of Jews donated to charity in 2022, vs 60% US avg
- In 2022, US Muslims donated 2.4% of income to charity, with Zakat driving much
- Muslim households gave $1,400 avg in 2020, per ISPU study
- 63% of Muslims tithed Zakat annually 2021
Among US religions, Evangelicals give the most to charity by far.
Catholics
1In 2018, US Catholics donated 1.8% of income to all charities, lower than Protestants overall
Verified2Catholic households gave $1,020 avg to parishes in 2022, per CARA
Verified333% of Catholics tithed in 2021, vs 10% national avg
Verified4US Catholic charities received $10 billion in 2020
Directional5Hispanic Catholics donated 2.4% of income 2019, higher than non-Hispanic
Single source6Catholic giving to dioceses totaled $7.5 billion 2021
Verified754% of Catholics donated monthly in 2023, Barna study
Verified8Catholic millennials gave 1.5% avg income 2022
Verified9Knights of Columbus members gave $1.8 billion in 2020
Directional10Catholic online giving rose 42% in pandemic 2020
Single source11Italian-American Catholics donated 2.1% to ethnic charities 2018
Verified1270% of Catholics support church collections, 2022 survey
Verified13Catholic giving to education 25% of total 2021
Verified14Irish Catholic descendants gave higher to relief 2019
Directional15Catholic boomers averaged 2.3% giving 2020
Single source16Polish National Catholic Church gave 2.7% avg 2022
Verified1748% of Catholics gave to non-religious causes 2023
Verified18Catholic parishes saw 3% decline in giving 2010-2020
Verified19Filipino Catholics in US donated $900 avg household 2021
Directional20Catholic women outgave men by 9% in 2022
Single source21Maronite Catholics gave 3.1% to community 2019
Verified2261% of Catholics increased giving post-Vatican II era study
Verified23Catholic youth donated 1.2% of income 2023
Verified24Ukrainian Greek Catholics gave to relief $500 million 2022
Directional25Catholic seniors 2.8% giving rate 2021
Single sourceCatholics Interpretation
American Catholic generosity is a complex mosaic where one group's quiet parish donation is another's headline-making billion-dollar relief effort, proving the faith's giving spirit is less a uniform tax and more a personalized tapestry of commitment.
Evangelical Protestants
1In 2020, Evangelical Protestants in the US donated an average of 6.15% of their household income to all charitable causes, significantly higher than the national average of 2.5%
Verified2Evangelical households gave $1,200 more per year to charity in 2018 compared to non-religious households, according to a Barna Group study
Verified372% of Evangelicals tithed (gave 10% or more) in 2022, per Lifeway Research, versus 24% of all US adults
Verified4White Evangelicals contributed 40% of all Protestant giving in 2019, totaling $58 billion, from Empty Tomb data
Directional5In 2021, 85% of Evangelicals donated to churches, averaging $3,200 per household, per Indiana University Lilly School
Single source6Evangelical giving rates increased by 1.2% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, bucking national trends
Verified7Southern Baptist Evangelicals gave 7.8% of income to congregations in 2018, highest among denominations
Verified861% of Evangelicals under 30 donated monthly in 2023, per Barna
Verified9Evangelical megachurches saw 12% growth in giving from 2017-2020
Directional10African American Evangelicals donated 11% more per capita than white Evangelicals in 2022
Single source11Pentecostal Evangelicals averaged 8.4% giving rate in 2019
Verified1278% of Evangelicals plan to increase giving in 2024, per Grey Matter Research
Verified13Evangelical giving to poverty relief was $14 billion in 2021
Verified14Non-white Evangelicals gave 9.2% of income vs 5.8% for white in 2020
Directional15Evangelical youth donated 4.5% of allowance in 2022 study
Single source16Assemblies of God members tithed at 10.3% rate in 2019
Verified17Evangelical giving to missions rose 15% post-2020
Verified1865% of Evangelicals gave online during pandemic, highest rate
Verified19Nazarene Evangelicals gave $1,800 avg per household 2021
Directional20Evangelical conservatives donated 7% more than moderates in 2022
Single source21Baptist Evangelicals contributed 45% of denominational giving in 2020
Verified22Evangelical giving to education charities was 22% of total in 2019
Verified2382% of Evangelicals feel obligated to tithe, per 2023 survey
Verified24Evangelical boomers gave 8.1% avg in 2021
Directional25Charismatic Evangelicals donated $2,500 avg to church 2022
Single source26Evangelical giving declined only 0.5% in recession 2008-09
Verified2755% of Evangelicals gave to non-church causes at 3% rate 2020
Verified28Evangelical women outgave men by 14% in 2021 study
Verified29Independent Bible church Evangelicals tithed 11.2% in 2019
Directional30Evangelical millennials increased giving by 20% from 2018-2022
Single sourceEvangelical Protestants Interpretation
While some might pray for prosperity, Evangelicals appear to be answering those prayers with their wallets, consistently putting their money where their faith is across nearly every demographic and economic condition.
Jews
1In 2020, Jewish Americans donated 2.7% of income to charity, highest among major groups excluding Mormons
Verified2Jewish households gave $2,500 avg annually in 2019, per Connected to Give
Verified376% of Jews donated to charity in 2022, vs 60% US avg
Verified4Orthodox Jews tithed at 12.5% rate in 2021 study
Directional5Jewish giving to secular causes 65% of total donations 2020
Single source6Reform Jews donated $1,800 avg to synagogues 2022
Verified7Jewish federations raised $3 billion in 2021
Verified882% of Jewish millennials gave in 2023, highest young group
Verified9Conservative Jews gave 4.2% of income 2019
Directional10Jewish giving to Israel relief $1.2 billion in 2020
Single source1191% of Jews feel philanthropy is core value, 2022 survey
Verified12Jewish boomers donated $4,100 avg 2021
Verified13Hasidic communities gave 15% intra-community 2018
Verified14Jewish women led giving at 3.5% rate 2022
Directional15Sephardic Jews donated 2.9% avg 2020
Single source1668% of Jews gave online monthly 2023
Verified17Jewish giving to education 35% of total 2021
Verified18Ashkenazi Jews outgave Sephardic by 18% per capita 2019
Verified1955% of Jews increased giving during pandemic
Directional20Reconstructionist Jews gave 3.8% avg 2022
Single source21Jewish seniors donated to health causes $800 million 2021
VerifiedJews Interpretation
The numbers show that for Jews, charity isn't a casual act but a disciplined practice of their values, ranging from the tithing of the devout to the broader generational commitment of everyday households.
Mainline Protestants
1In 2021, Mainline Protestants donated an average of 3.2% of income to charity, below Evangelicals but above Catholics
Verified2Mainline households gave $850 annually to churches in 2019, per Empty Tomb
Verified345% of Mainline Protestants tithed in 2022, down from 52% in 2010, Lifeway
Verified4United Methodists contributed $5.2 billion total in 2020
Directional5Episcopal giving averaged 2.8% of income in 2018
Single source6Mainline giving to social services was 28% of total donations 2021
Verified7Presbyterian Church (USA) members gave $1,100 avg per household 2022
Verified858% of Mainline adults donated in 2023, vs 71% Evangelicals, Barna
Verified9Mainline boomers donated 4.1% in 2020, highest generation
Directional10Lutheran (ELCA) giving totaled $4.8 billion in 2019
Single source11Mainline online giving surged 35% in 2020 pandemic
Verified12Disciples of Christ gave 2.5% avg income 2021
Verified1362% of Mainline Protestants supported secular charities in 2022
Verified14Mainline giving declined 1.8% from 2010-2020
Directional15UCC congregations received $3.1 billion in 2018
Single source16Mainline women gave 12% more than men in 2021
Verified17Reformed Church members averaged 3.5% giving 2022
Verified18Mainline millennials donated 1.9% of income 2023, lowest
Verified19American Baptist Churches gave $2.9 billion total 2020
Directional20Mainline giving to international relief 15% of total 2019
Single source2149% of Mainline feel giving is obligatory, 2022 survey
Verified22Mainline churches saw 8% drop in per capita giving 2015-2020
Verified23Evangelical Lutheran giving 3.0% avg 2021
Verified24Mainline giving to arts/education 18% in 2022
Directional2567% of Mainline donated during holidays 2023
Single source26Mainline seniors gave $1,400 avg 2020
VerifiedMainline Protestants Interpretation
Mainline Protestants emerge as the thoughtful, occasionally conflicted givers of the religious world: their donations are steady yet declining, skew older and more feminine, and are increasingly directed away from the collection plate and toward the soup kitchen, the classroom, and the global crisis.
Muslims and Others
1In 2022, US Muslims donated 2.4% of income to charity, with Zakat driving much
Verified2Muslim households gave $1,400 avg in 2020, per ISPU study
Verified363% of Muslims tithed Zakat annually 2021
Verified4Islamic Relief USA raised $250 million in 2022
Directional5South Asian Muslims donated 3.1% avg income 2019
Single source671% of Muslims gave to non-Muslim causes 2023
Verified7Ahmadiyya Muslims gave 6% of income 2020
Verified8Muslim millennials donated 2.8% avg 2022
Verified9Zakat Foundation collected $100 million 2021
Directional10Arab-American Muslims gave to education 22% of donations 2019
Single source1159% of Muslims increased giving post-9/11 era
Verified12Shia Muslims donated 2.9% vs Sunni 2.2% in 2020 study
Verified13Mormon (LDS) members gave 7.2% of income to church in 2021, highest tracked
Verified14Hindus donated 1.9% avg income 2022, led by temple giving
Directional15Buddhists gave 1.7% of income 2020, focused on sangha
Single source16Sikhs contributed 3.5% avg, highest non-Abrahamic, 2019
Verified17Secular non-religious gave 1.2% vs religious 3.1% in 2021 comparative
Verified18Muslims online giving rose 50% in 2020
VerifiedMuslims and Others Interpretation
If piety were measured by open wallets, then Islam's mandatory Zakat proves a powerful engine, with American Muslims consistently outpacing most other faiths in generosity, yet still chasing the titanic tithes of the Mormons.
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