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 $1,020avg 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 $900avg 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 $1,200more 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 $1,800avg 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 $2,500avg 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 $2,500avg 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 $1,800avg 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 $4,100avg 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 $850annually 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 $1,100avg 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 $1,400avg 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 $1,400avg 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
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
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.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level