What are the Common Trends Across the Country for Church

Giving and How Does It Relate to Us?

NSAC Convention – October 4, 2011

Department of Endowments

Includes Info from Lake Institute on Faith & Giving

Richard Lee Klopp, Indianapolis, Indiana

Stated Reasons for Giving to Church

Percentage who say they give: Catholic Presbyterian Assemblies Mennonite

To pay the church bills 53 44 0 5Out of responsibility or obligation as a member of this church 93 89 44 60

Because I am giving to God or because I love God 0 6 39 15

To obey the Bible or God 13 11 100 45Out of thankfulness for all I have 27 6 11 50To meet the needs of others or for missions 20 28 22 50Because everything I have is God’s 7 6 28 40Because God will take care of my needs or because God will bless me if I give 13 0 67 10

Reasons People Give…

J. Clif Christopher, Not Your Parent’s Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship, 2008

“When I first started working with nonprofits other than churches, I noticed one glaring difference. Nonprofits understood why people give. … and I realized that neither I nor the churches had any idea how donors think or why they act the way they do.”

The Generations: Generational Groups, Total Population and Percentage Giving to Religion

Matures (b. 1945 or earlier)• US population 30 million;• Estimated 79% give

Boomers (b. 1946-1964)• US population 78 million;• Estimated 67% give

Gen X (b. 1965-1980)• US population 62 million• Estimated 58% give

Gen Y (b. 1981-1991)• US population 51 million;• Estimated 56% give

Source: Charitable Giving Research Study, Barnabas Foundation, 2010

Generational Differences in Charitable Giving and in Motivations for Giving, a report prepared for Campbell & Company, by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 2008

The Paradigm Shift in Religious Giving

Moral ObligationInstitutions are to be

TrustedGiving is a

ContributionFundraising is

Raising MoneyIncomes Sources are

Limited

Donor CultivationInstitutional Trust must be

EarnedGiving is Creating ChangeFundraising is Nurturing

GenerosityIncome Sources are

Diverse

The Old Paradigm The Emerging Paradigm

Laws of Fundraising

If you don’t ask you don’t get.

Fundraising is a team sport.

Fundraising is “a journey not a destination.”

It’s not magic but it is about the magic in your heart.