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
- 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
- US Catholic charities received $10 billion in 2020
- Hispanic Catholics donated 2.4% of income 2019, higher than non-Hispanic
- Catholic giving to dioceses totaled $7.5 billion 2021
- 54% of Catholics donated monthly in 2023, Barna study
- Catholic millennials gave 1.5% avg income 2022
- Knights of Columbus members gave $1.8 billion in 2020
- Catholic online giving rose 42% in pandemic 2020
- Italian-American Catholics donated 2.1% to ethnic charities 2018
- 70% of Catholics support church collections, 2022 survey
- Catholic giving to education 25% of total 2021
- Irish Catholic descendants gave higher to relief 2019
- Catholic boomers averaged 2.3% giving 2020
- Polish National Catholic Church gave 2.7% avg 2022
- 48% of Catholics gave to non-religious causes 2023
- Catholic parishes saw 3% decline in giving 2010-2020
- Filipino Catholics in US donated $900 avg household 2021
- Catholic women outgave men by 9% in 2022
- Maronite Catholics gave 3.1% to community 2019
- 61% of Catholics increased giving post-Vatican II era study
- Catholic youth donated 1.2% of income 2023
- Ukrainian Greek Catholics gave to relief $500 million 2022
- Catholic seniors 2.8% giving rate 2021
Catholics 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
- 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
- White Evangelicals contributed 40% of all Protestant giving in 2019, totaling $58 billion, from Empty Tomb data
- In 2021, 85% of Evangelicals donated to churches, averaging $3,200 per household, per Indiana University Lilly School
- Evangelical giving rates increased by 1.2% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, bucking national trends
- Southern Baptist Evangelicals gave 7.8% of income to congregations in 2018, highest among denominations
- 61% of Evangelicals under 30 donated monthly in 2023, per Barna
- Evangelical megachurches saw 12% growth in giving from 2017-2020
- African American Evangelicals donated 11% more per capita than white Evangelicals in 2022
- Pentecostal Evangelicals averaged 8.4% giving rate in 2019
- 78% of Evangelicals plan to increase giving in 2024, per Grey Matter Research
- Evangelical giving to poverty relief was $14 billion in 2021
- Non-white Evangelicals gave 9.2% of income vs 5.8% for white in 2020
- Evangelical youth donated 4.5% of allowance in 2022 study
- Assemblies of God members tithed at 10.3% rate in 2019
- Evangelical giving to missions rose 15% post-2020
- 65% of Evangelicals gave online during pandemic, highest rate
- Nazarene Evangelicals gave $1,800 avg per household 2021
- Evangelical conservatives donated 7% more than moderates in 2022
- Baptist Evangelicals contributed 45% of denominational giving in 2020
- Evangelical giving to education charities was 22% of total in 2019
- 82% of Evangelicals feel obligated to tithe, per 2023 survey
- Evangelical boomers gave 8.1% avg in 2021
- Charismatic Evangelicals donated $2,500 avg to church 2022
- Evangelical giving declined only 0.5% in recession 2008-09
- 55% of Evangelicals gave to non-church causes at 3% rate 2020
- Evangelical women outgave men by 14% in 2021 study
- Independent Bible church Evangelicals tithed 11.2% in 2019
- Evangelical millennials increased giving by 20% from 2018-2022
Evangelical 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
- 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
- Orthodox Jews tithed at 12.5% rate in 2021 study
- Jewish giving to secular causes 65% of total donations 2020
- Reform Jews donated $1,800 avg to synagogues 2022
- Jewish federations raised $3 billion in 2021
- 82% of Jewish millennials gave in 2023, highest young group
- Conservative Jews gave 4.2% of income 2019
- Jewish giving to Israel relief $1.2 billion in 2020
- 91% of Jews feel philanthropy is core value, 2022 survey
- Jewish boomers donated $4,100 avg 2021
- Hasidic communities gave 15% intra-community 2018
- Jewish women led giving at 3.5% rate 2022
- Sephardic Jews donated 2.9% avg 2020
- 68% of Jews gave online monthly 2023
- Jewish giving to education 35% of total 2021
- Ashkenazi Jews outgave Sephardic by 18% per capita 2019
- 55% of Jews increased giving during pandemic
- Reconstructionist Jews gave 3.8% avg 2022
- Jewish seniors donated to health causes $800 million 2021
Jews 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
- 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
- United Methodists contributed $5.2 billion total in 2020
- Episcopal giving averaged 2.8% of income in 2018
- Mainline giving to social services was 28% of total donations 2021
- Presbyterian Church (USA) members gave $1,100 avg per household 2022
- 58% of Mainline adults donated in 2023, vs 71% Evangelicals, Barna
- Mainline boomers donated 4.1% in 2020, highest generation
- Lutheran (ELCA) giving totaled $4.8 billion in 2019
- Mainline online giving surged 35% in 2020 pandemic
- Disciples of Christ gave 2.5% avg income 2021
- 62% of Mainline Protestants supported secular charities in 2022
- Mainline giving declined 1.8% from 2010-2020
- UCC congregations received $3.1 billion in 2018
- Mainline women gave 12% more than men in 2021
- Reformed Church members averaged 3.5% giving 2022
- Mainline millennials donated 1.9% of income 2023, lowest
- American Baptist Churches gave $2.9 billion total 2020
- Mainline giving to international relief 15% of total 2019
- 49% of Mainline feel giving is obligatory, 2022 survey
- Mainline churches saw 8% drop in per capita giving 2015-2020
- Evangelical Lutheran giving 3.0% avg 2021
- Mainline giving to arts/education 18% in 2022
- 67% of Mainline donated during holidays 2023
- Mainline seniors gave $1,400 avg 2020
Mainline 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
- 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
- Islamic Relief USA raised $250 million in 2022
- South Asian Muslims donated 3.1% avg income 2019
- 71% of Muslims gave to non-Muslim causes 2023
- Ahmadiyya Muslims gave 6% of income 2020
- Muslim millennials donated 2.8% avg 2022
- Zakat Foundation collected $100 million 2021
- Arab-American Muslims gave to education 22% of donations 2019
- 59% of Muslims increased giving post-9/11 era
- Shia Muslims donated 2.9% vs Sunni 2.2% in 2020 study
- Mormon (LDS) members gave 7.2% of income to church in 2021, highest tracked
- Hindus donated 1.9% avg income 2022, led by temple giving
- Buddhists gave 1.7% of income 2020, focused on sangha
- Sikhs contributed 3.5% avg, highest non-Abrahamic, 2019
- Secular non-religious gave 1.2% vs religious 3.1% in 2021 comparative
- Muslims online giving rose 50% in 2020
Muslims 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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