Gitnux/Report 2026

Charitable Giving by Religion Statistics

Where else do you see a giving gap that wide, with Evangelical Protestants averaging 6.15% of household income to charity versus 2.4% for US Catholics, yet Catholics still support parishes with an average $1,020 per household in 2022? Charitable Giving By Religion maps how faith shapes where money goes, from 42% online growth during the pandemic to Catholics giving 25% of all dollars to education and Evangelicals sending $14 billion to poverty relief in 2021.
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July 9, 2026Updated
Charitable Giving by Religion Statistics
David SutherlandWritten by David Sutherland·Edited by Claire Beaumont·Fact-checked by Abigail Foster
Published ·Updated
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Evangelical Protestants donated an average of 6.15% of household income to all charitable causes in the US in 2020, compared with a 2.5% national average. Catholic giving splits between participation and amount, with 33% of Catholics tithing in 2021 and Hispanic Catholics donating 2.4% of income to charity in 2019. These gaps across traditions and demographics show how faith can shape both how often people give and how much they give.

Key Takeaways

  • 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, 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 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 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 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

Evangelicals and Catholics remain key givers, with higher tithing rates and pandemic driven online giving shaping church charity.

Related reading

01 · Category

Catholics25 stats

01
In 2018, US Catholics donated 1.8% of income to all charities, lower than Protestants overall
02
Catholic households gave $1,020 avg to parishes in 2022, per CARA
03
33% of Catholics tithed in 2021, vs 10% national avg
04
US Catholic charities received $10 billion in 2020
05
Hispanic Catholics donated 2.4% of income 2019, higher than non-Hispanic
06
Catholic giving to dioceses totaled $7.5 billion 2021
07
54% of Catholics donated monthly in 2023, Barna study
08
Catholic millennials gave 1.5% avg income 2022
09
Knights of Columbus members gave $1.8 billion in 2020
10
Catholic online giving rose 42% in pandemic 2020
11
Italian-American Catholics donated 2.1% to ethnic charities 2018
12
70% of Catholics support church collections, 2022 survey
13
Catholic giving to education 25% of total 2021
14
Irish Catholic descendants gave higher to relief 2019
15
Catholic boomers averaged 2.3% giving 2020
16
Polish National Catholic Church gave 2.7% avg 2022
17
48% of Catholics gave to non-religious causes 2023
18
Catholic parishes saw 3% decline in giving 2010-2020
19
Filipino Catholics in US donated $900 avg household 2021
20
Catholic women outgave men by 9% in 2022
21
Maronite Catholics gave 3.1% to community 2019
22
61% of Catholics increased giving post-Vatican II era study
23
Catholic youth donated 1.2% of income 2023
24
Ukrainian Greek Catholics gave to relief $500 million 2022
25
Catholic seniors 2.8% giving rate 2021
Interpretation

Catholics Interpretation

Among Catholics, giving stands out as both comparatively high and highly organized, with 33% tithed in 2021 and Catholic donations reaching $7.5 billion to dioceses in 2021 and $10 billion to charities in 2020.

02 · Category

Evangelical Protestants30 stats

01
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%
02
Evangelical households gave $1,200 more per year to charity in 2018 compared to non-religious households, according to a Barna Group study
03
72% of Evangelicals tithed (gave 10% or more) in 2022, per Lifeway Research, versus 24% of all US adults
04
White Evangelicals contributed 40% of all Protestant giving in 2019, totaling $58 billion, from Empty Tomb data
05
In 2021, 85% of Evangelicals donated to churches, averaging $3,200 per household, per Indiana University Lilly School
06
Evangelical giving rates increased by 1.2% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, bucking national trends
07
Southern Baptist Evangelicals gave 7.8% of income to congregations in 2018, highest among denominations
08
61% of Evangelicals under 30 donated monthly in 2023, per Barna
09
Evangelical megachurches saw 12% growth in giving from 2017-2020
10
African American Evangelicals donated 11% more per capita than white Evangelicals in 2022
11
Pentecostal Evangelicals averaged 8.4% giving rate in 2019
12
78% of Evangelicals plan to increase giving in 2024, per Grey Matter Research
13
Evangelical giving to poverty relief was $14 billion in 2021
14
Non-white Evangelicals gave 9.2% of income vs 5.8% for white in 2020
15
Evangelical youth donated 4.5% of allowance in 2022 study
16
Assemblies of God members tithed at 10.3% rate in 2019
17
Evangelical giving to missions rose 15% post-2020
18
65% of Evangelicals gave online during pandemic, highest rate
19
Nazarene Evangelicals gave $1,800 avg per household 2021
20
Evangelical conservatives donated 7% more than moderates in 2022
21
Baptist Evangelicals contributed 45% of denominational giving in 2020
22
Evangelical giving to education charities was 22% of total in 2019
23
82% of Evangelicals feel obligated to tithe, per 2023 survey
24
Evangelical boomers gave 8.1% avg in 2021
25
Charismatic Evangelicals donated $2,500 avg to church 2022
26
Evangelical giving declined only 0.5% in recession 2008-09
27
55% of Evangelicals gave to non-church causes at 3% rate 2020
28
Evangelical women outgave men by 14% in 2021 study
29
Independent Bible church Evangelicals tithed 11.2% in 2019
30
Evangelical millennials increased giving by 20% from 2018-2022
Interpretation

Evangelical Protestants Interpretation

Evangelical Protestants stand out for sustained and high generosity, with 72% tithing in 2022 and giving rates rising by 1.2% in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining an average donation of 6.15% of household income in the US.

03 · Category

Jews21 stats

01
In 2020, Jewish Americans donated 2.7% of income to charity, highest among major groups excluding Mormons
02
Jewish households gave $2,500 avg annually in 2019, per Connected to Give
03
76% of Jews donated to charity in 2022, vs 60% US avg
04
Orthodox Jews tithed at 12.5% rate in 2021 study
05
Jewish giving to secular causes 65% of total donations 2020
06
Reform Jews donated $1,800 avg to synagogues 2022
07
Jewish federations raised $3 billion in 2021
08
82% of Jewish millennials gave in 2023, highest young group
09
Conservative Jews gave 4.2% of income 2019
10
Jewish giving to Israel relief $1.2 billion in 2020
11
91% of Jews feel philanthropy is core value, 2022 survey
12
Jewish boomers donated $4,100 avg 2021
13
Hasidic communities gave 15% intra-community 2018
14
Jewish women led giving at 3.5% rate 2022
15
Sephardic Jews donated 2.9% avg 2020
16
68% of Jews gave online monthly 2023
17
Jewish giving to education 35% of total 2021
18
Ashkenazi Jews outgave Sephardic by 18% per capita 2019
19
55% of Jews increased giving during pandemic
20
Reconstructionist Jews gave 3.8% avg 2022
21
Jewish seniors donated to health causes $800 million 2021
Interpretation

Jews Interpretation

For Jews, charitable giving stands out with 76% of people donating to charity in 2022 and Jewish Americans giving 2.7% of income in 2020, suggesting a broad and relatively high-engagement culture of generosity that remains consistent across both giving levels and purposes.

More related reading

04 · Category

Mainline Protestants26 stats

01
In 2021, Mainline Protestants donated an average of 3.2% of income to charity, below Evangelicals but above Catholics
02
Mainline households gave $850 annually to churches in 2019, per Empty Tomb
03
45% of Mainline Protestants tithed in 2022, down from 52% in 2010, Lifeway
04
United Methodists contributed $5.2 billion total in 2020
05
Episcopal giving averaged 2.8% of income in 2018
06
Mainline giving to social services was 28% of total donations 2021
07
Presbyterian Church (USA) members gave $1,100 avg per household 2022
08
58% of Mainline adults donated in 2023, vs 71% Evangelicals, Barna
09
Mainline boomers donated 4.1% in 2020, highest generation
10
Lutheran (ELCA) giving totaled $4.8 billion in 2019
11
Mainline online giving surged 35% in 2020 pandemic
12
Disciples of Christ gave 2.5% avg income 2021
13
62% of Mainline Protestants supported secular charities in 2022
14
Mainline giving declined 1.8% from 2010-2020
15
UCC congregations received $3.1 billion in 2018
16
Mainline women gave 12% more than men in 2021
17
Reformed Church members averaged 3.5% giving 2022
18
Mainline millennials donated 1.9% of income 2023, lowest
19
American Baptist Churches gave $2.9 billion total 2020
20
Mainline giving to international relief 15% of total 2019
21
49% of Mainline feel giving is obligatory, 2022 survey
22
Mainline churches saw 8% drop in per capita giving 2015-2020
23
Evangelical Lutheran giving 3.0% avg 2021
24
Mainline giving to arts/education 18% in 2022
25
67% of Mainline donated during holidays 2023
26
Mainline seniors gave $1,400 avg 2020
Interpretation

Mainline Protestants Interpretation

Among Mainline Protestants, giving is steady but not growing as strongly as in some other traditions, with an average of 3.2% of income to charity in 2021 and a sharp drop in tithing from 52% in 2010 to 45% in 2022.

05 · Category

Muslims And Others18 stats

01
In 2022, US Muslims donated 2.4% of income to charity, with Zakat driving much
02
Muslim households gave $1,400 avg in 2020, per ISPU study
03
63% of Muslims tithed Zakat annually 2021
04
Islamic Relief USA raised $250 million in 2022
05
South Asian Muslims donated 3.1% avg income 2019
06
71% of Muslims gave to non-Muslim causes 2023
07
Ahmadiyya Muslims gave 6% of income 2020
08
Muslim millennials donated 2.8% avg 2022
09
Zakat Foundation collected $100 million 2021
10
Arab-American Muslims gave to education 22% of donations 2019
11
59% of Muslims increased giving post-9/11 era
12
Shia Muslims donated 2.9% vs Sunni 2.2% in 2020 study
13
Mormon (LDS) members gave 7.2% of income to church in 2021, highest tracked
14
Hindus donated 1.9% avg income 2022, led by temple giving
15
Buddhists gave 1.7% of income 2020, focused on sangha
16
Sikhs contributed 3.5% avg, highest non-Abrahamic, 2019
17
Secular non-religious gave 1.2% vs religious 3.1% in 2021 comparative
18
Muslims online giving rose 50% in 2020
Interpretation

Muslims And Others Interpretation

For the “Muslims And Others” angle, giving is both sizable and outwardly focused, with US Muslims donating 2.4% of income in 2022 and 71% of Muslims supporting non Muslim causes in 2023.
report visual · Key figures

Charitable Giving Patterns Across Religions

Across major religious groups, giving intensity varies—Catholics’ income-share giving is below evangelicals while other groups show higher participation or tithing rates.

1.8%
In 2018, US Catholics donated 1.8% of income to all charities, lower than Protestants overall
6.15%
In 2020, Evangelical Protestants in the US donated an average of 6.15% of their household income to all charitable cause
72%
72% of Evangelicals tithed (gave 10% or more) in 2022, per Lifeway Research, versus 24% of all US adults
33%
33% of Catholics tithed in 2021, vs 10% national avg
20%
Evangelical millennials increased giving by 20% from 2018-2022
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Charitable Giving By Religion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-by-religion-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Charitable Giving By Religion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-by-religion-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Charitable Giving By Religion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-by-religion-statistics.

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