GITNUXREPORT 2025

Church Giving Statistics

Church giving in the U.S. exceeds $10 billion annually, driven by online, recurring donations.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

35% of churches report that their biggest challenge in fundraising is lack of congregation engagement

Statistic 2

70% of church income comes from regular tithes and offerings

Statistic 3

Churches in the U.S. receive over $10 billion annually from donations

Statistic 4

About 65% of church income is derived from individual donations, with the remainder from special events and grants

Statistic 5

About 25% of church funding comes from non-tithe sources like grants, endowments, and fundraising events

Statistic 6

The percentage of church income from special fundraising campaigns, including capital campaigns, is approximately 15%

Statistic 7

The median annual income of churches in the U.S. is around $350,000

Statistic 8

The majority of churches report that about 40% of their income is from donors giving $1,000 or more annually

Statistic 9

80% of church budgets are dedicated to operational expenses, with 20% allocated for outreach and missions

Statistic 10

The percentage of church budgets derived from donations has increased by 25% since 2010

Statistic 11

Young adults (ages 18-29) donate less to churches than older demographics, with an average of $468 annually

Statistic 12

In rural areas, church donations tend to be 20% lower than in urban churches

Statistic 13

The average age of church donors is increasing, with the median age now at 52

Statistic 14

The average church membership in the U.S. has declined by 10% over the past decade, affecting overall giving patterns

Statistic 15

The median annual donation to churches is around $500, with significant variation across denominations

Statistic 16

The average age of first-time church donors is 32 years old, indicating younger generations are starting to give

Statistic 17

The number of new church donors has increased by 10% over the past five years, reflecting growth among younger demographics

Statistic 18

55% of church donors prefer to give via recurring donation options

Statistic 19

Churches that emphasize stewardship teachings see a 20% higher donation rate

Statistic 20

45% of church donors give consistently year-round, not just during special campaigns

Statistic 21

Women tend to give 30% more to churches than men, on average

Statistic 22

Giving from church members tends to decline by about 1-2% annually if not actively encouraged

Statistic 23

About 70% of churches report that their most successful fundraising efforts involve personal appeals and face-to-face communication

Statistic 24

Churches engaged in community service and social justice initiatives report 10% higher donations

Statistic 25

65% of church donors contribute to multiple charities, including their local church, throughout the year

Statistic 26

Donors who attend church regularly are 3 times more likely to give than infrequent attendees

Statistic 27

In 2022, American churchgoers donated approximately $11 billion to religious organizations

Statistic 28

The average church member gives about 2.5% of their income

Statistic 29

About 90% of American church members tithe, but only 10-25% do so regularly

Statistic 30

In 2021, the average church donation was approximately $1,060 per giving household

Statistic 31

Giving to churches accounts for about 75% of all religious giving

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Approximately 50% of Americans give to religious organizations annually

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The percentage of church income derived from donations has increased by 15% over the past decade

Statistic 34

Many churches report that about 30-40% of their congregation members give less than $100 annually

Statistic 35

Faith-based charitable giving tends to spike during economic downturns, with a 12% increase during the 2020 pandemic

Statistic 36

The median donation to churches is around $350 per household

Statistic 37

Churches that implement online giving platforms see a 30-50% increase in donations

Statistic 38

80% of churches that started online giving during the COVID-19 pandemic continued to see growth afterwards

Statistic 39

Churches with transparent financial reporting tend to receive 25-30% more donations

Statistic 40

The average size of a church donation in the U.S. is about $45

Statistic 41

Churches that use social media for fundraising see an average increase of 25% in contributions

Statistic 42

60% of church donations come during the last quarter of the year, especially in December

Statistic 43

Churches that incorporate financial literacy in their programs see a 15% boost in giving

Statistic 44

The average donation per congregation per week is approximately $25

Statistic 45

Faith-based organizations that partner with local communities often see a 15-20% increase in donations

Statistic 46

Small churches (under 100 members) tend to have a lower average annual donation per member compared to larger congregations

Statistic 47

Testimonies and personal stories increase donation likelihood by up to 40%

Statistic 48

Churches with a planned giving program see a 20% increase in legacy gifts

Statistic 49

Religious giving accounts for approximately 3% of total household charitable donations in the U.S.

Statistic 50

Churches that actively communicate their mission and impact experience a 15% higher donation rate

Statistic 51

Volunteer involvement in churches correlates strongly with higher donations, with volunteers being 1.5 times more likely to give

Statistic 52

There has been a 200% increase in electronic donations to churches from 2019 to 2022

Statistic 53

Giving via mobile devices accounts for 40% of all online church donations

Statistic 54

The percentage of churches offering electronic giving options increased from 25% in 2019 to 85% in 2023

Statistic 55

The percentage of donations made through automatic bank transfers increased by 45% from 2019 to 2022

Statistic 56

Over 50% of church donations are made through online platforms, with an upward trend

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Key Highlights

In 2022, American churchgoers donated approximately $11 billion to religious organizations
The average church member gives about 2.5% of their income
About 90% of American church members tithe, but only 10-25% do so regularly
70% of church income comes from regular tithes and offerings
Churches in the U.S. receive over $10 billion annually from donations
In 2021, the average church donation was approximately $1,060 per giving household
Giving to churches accounts for about 75% of all religious giving
Approximately 50% of Americans give to religious organizations annually
The percentage of church income derived from donations has increased by 15% over the past decade
Young adults (ages 18-29) donate less to churches than older demographics, with an average of $468 annually
Many churches report that about 30-40% of their congregation members give less than $100 annually
Faith-based charitable giving tends to spike during economic downturns, with a 12% increase during the 2020 pandemic
The median donation to churches is around $350 per household

Did you know that American churches received over $11 billion in donations in 2022, with online giving and recurring donations fueling a decade-long surge in faith-based charitable contributions?

Challenges and Strategies in Church Fundraising

35% of churches report that their biggest challenge in fundraising is lack of congregation engagement

Challenges and Strategies in Church Fundraising Interpretation

With 35% of churches citing low congregation engagement as their top fundraising hurdle, it seems the true test of faith today is inspiring followers to put their faith into action—beyond just Sunday sermons.

Church Funding Sources and Revenue Distribution

70% of church income comes from regular tithes and offerings
Churches in the U.S. receive over $10 billion annually from donations
About 65% of church income is derived from individual donations, with the remainder from special events and grants
About 25% of church funding comes from non-tithe sources like grants, endowments, and fundraising events
The percentage of church income from special fundraising campaigns, including capital campaigns, is approximately 15%
The median annual income of churches in the U.S. is around $350,000
The majority of churches report that about 40% of their income is from donors giving $1,000 or more annually
80% of church budgets are dedicated to operational expenses, with 20% allocated for outreach and missions
The percentage of church budgets derived from donations has increased by 25% since 2010

Church Funding Sources and Revenue Distribution Interpretation

With over $10 billion flowing into U.S. churches annually—primarily fueled by dedicated donor dollars—it's clear that while operational expenses dominate their budgets, a growing generosity from individual givers underpins the faith-based economy, making donations both the heart and the rising tide of American church funding.

Demographics and Donor Engagement

Young adults (ages 18-29) donate less to churches than older demographics, with an average of $468 annually
In rural areas, church donations tend to be 20% lower than in urban churches
The average age of church donors is increasing, with the median age now at 52
The average church membership in the U.S. has declined by 10% over the past decade, affecting overall giving patterns
The median annual donation to churches is around $500, with significant variation across denominations
The average age of first-time church donors is 32 years old, indicating younger generations are starting to give
The number of new church donors has increased by 10% over the past five years, reflecting growth among younger demographics

Demographics and Donor Engagement Interpretation

While younger adults are beginning to dip into their wallets at a slightly higher rate and rural churches see the poorest returns, the steady aging of donors and declining membership underscore an urgent need for churches to innovate or risk fading into the background of American spiritual life.

Donor Behavior

55% of church donors prefer to give via recurring donation options
Churches that emphasize stewardship teachings see a 20% higher donation rate
45% of church donors give consistently year-round, not just during special campaigns
Women tend to give 30% more to churches than men, on average
Giving from church members tends to decline by about 1-2% annually if not actively encouraged
About 70% of churches report that their most successful fundraising efforts involve personal appeals and face-to-face communication
Churches engaged in community service and social justice initiatives report 10% higher donations
65% of church donors contribute to multiple charities, including their local church, throughout the year
Donors who attend church regularly are 3 times more likely to give than infrequent attendees

Donor Behavior Interpretation

While recurring giving, personal engagement, and stewardship teachings significantly boost church donations, neglecting these strategies risks a silent decline, especially as consistent, engaged participation remains the heart of sustainable faith-based fundraising.

Financial Contributions and Donor Behavior

In 2022, American churchgoers donated approximately $11 billion to religious organizations
The average church member gives about 2.5% of their income
About 90% of American church members tithe, but only 10-25% do so regularly
In 2021, the average church donation was approximately $1,060 per giving household
Giving to churches accounts for about 75% of all religious giving
Approximately 50% of Americans give to religious organizations annually
The percentage of church income derived from donations has increased by 15% over the past decade
Many churches report that about 30-40% of their congregation members give less than $100 annually
Faith-based charitable giving tends to spike during economic downturns, with a 12% increase during the 2020 pandemic
The median donation to churches is around $350 per household
Churches that implement online giving platforms see a 30-50% increase in donations
80% of churches that started online giving during the COVID-19 pandemic continued to see growth afterwards
Churches with transparent financial reporting tend to receive 25-30% more donations
The average size of a church donation in the U.S. is about $45
Churches that use social media for fundraising see an average increase of 25% in contributions
60% of church donations come during the last quarter of the year, especially in December
Churches that incorporate financial literacy in their programs see a 15% boost in giving
The average donation per congregation per week is approximately $25
Faith-based organizations that partner with local communities often see a 15-20% increase in donations
Small churches (under 100 members) tend to have a lower average annual donation per member compared to larger congregations
Testimonies and personal stories increase donation likelihood by up to 40%
Churches with a planned giving program see a 20% increase in legacy gifts
Religious giving accounts for approximately 3% of total household charitable donations in the U.S.
Churches that actively communicate their mission and impact experience a 15% higher donation rate
Volunteer involvement in churches correlates strongly with higher donations, with volunteers being 1.5 times more likely to give

Financial Contributions and Donor Behavior Interpretation

While Americans collectively donated an impressive $11 billion to churches in 2022—highlighting both their faith and fiscal capacity—only a fraction of their income is consistently tithed, and despite a surge in online and transparent giving boosting contributions, a significant portion remains below the $100 mark annually, underscoring that promoting financial literacy, storytelling, and digital engagement is essential to sustaining this vital faith-based funding—reminding us that generosity is as much about faith in action as dollars in the plate.

Technology and Innovation in Giving

There has been a 200% increase in electronic donations to churches from 2019 to 2022
Giving via mobile devices accounts for 40% of all online church donations
The percentage of churches offering electronic giving options increased from 25% in 2019 to 85% in 2023
The percentage of donations made through automatic bank transfers increased by 45% from 2019 to 2022
Over 50% of church donations are made through online platforms, with an upward trend

Technology and Innovation in Giving Interpretation

The dramatic rise in electronic giving—from a quarter of churches offering options to nearly all and over half of donations now flowing online—illustrates that faith and technology are truly converging, transforming how congregations support their missions in the digital age.