The 2026 Generosity Report revealed that Christians in the UK are giving faithfully, yet one truth is unmistakably clear: trust is the strongest predictor of generosity.
45% of Christians say they trust their local church ‘a lot’, which is far more than any other type of organisation they might consider giving to. When that trust is strong, generosity grows – both to the church itself, but also to other causes. When trust weakens, giving becomes irregular and disengaged.
For church leaders, the challenge is clear: how do you intentionally build the kind of trust that leads to generous, joyful giving?
Trust releases generosity
The 2026 Generosity Report shows a clear pattern: those who trust their church most are also the most generous. Christians who trust their church ‘a lot’ make up 74% of givers to all causes, and nearly nine in ten support their own church financially.
Trust also shapes how people feel about giving. Among these high-trust Christians, 34% report gratitude and 32% joy when they give, compared with only 9% and 10% among those who have no trust in their church at all.
This reflects the lived experience of many. Mayowa, one of the report’s interviewees, said:
“Trust is hard fought and easily lost, so it needs to be protected and guarded at all costs… If my church allows somebody to speak from the front, because I trust my church, I automatically trust whoever they put in front of us. But if I was walking down the street and somebody approached me about a particular charity, I'd probably say I want to go away and do a bit more research myself.”
Her words capture a wider truth: generosity flows more freely when people trust the leaders who steward their gifts.
Teaching and transparency build trust
The report also highlights that regular teaching on generosity is one of the strongest markers of a high-trust culture. 77% of those who trust their church ‘a lot’ have heard teaching on generosity in the past year, compared with only around a third of those who express no trust.
This creates a reinforcing cycle. Consistent engagement leads to regular teaching, which in turn builds trust, which then nurtures deeper and more joyful generosity. Teaching that integrates Scripture with practical financial wisdom is especially valued.
Practical steps for leaders and treasurers
1. Be transparent
Share clear financial updates that show how giving fuels ministry. Avoid jargon and explain decisions simply, in good times as well as lean.
If you put yourself in the shoes of your congregation and consider the information that they can access and understand, how clear a picture would you have of where money comes from and where it goes?
2. Teach regularly, not reactively
Make generosity part of discipleship rather than something raised only during financial pressure. Truly generous behaviour has roots in a full understanding of how to put money in its rightful place as a servant rather than master, and a deep conviction of identity in Christ, not possessions. The focus should never be about the money itself, so much as the heart behind it.
How could your sermons, small groups or discipleship courses demonstrate this transformation versus our culture’s worldview, and how well is it exemplified? What is a healthy frequency in your culture and context?
3. Invest in relationships
Personal connection builds confidence. Invite testimonies, host Q&As and create space for honest conversation. By welcoming questions in all contexts and topic of discussion, a positive cycle of transparency will develop.
You may wish to consider how younger givers can be better engaged, as the Generosity Report revealed they are open to learning, hungry for purpose and responsive to clear invitations to give.
4. Report back with stories
Show real lives changed through the church’s ministry, so that people can see the fruit of their giving. Celebrating the stories and honouring givers for the generosity that made it possible reinforces the joy and purposes of giving.
When was the last time your church thanked its givers, large and small?
A final encouragement
Trust is the soil in which Christian generosity grows.
When churches lead with integrity, clarity and consistent teaching, they create an environment where giving becomes joyful, confident and transformative for the whole church family.
Your trusted partner
The Stewardship Partner Account is there to help your cause to maximise giving income and manage your support all in one place. It simplifies the donation process and connects you to our growing community of over 30,000 generous givers.
Explore Partner Accounts for Churches
Other blogs in this series
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James Bishop
James is our Digital Marketing Manager and works within our Purpose team to connect Christians to the causes they care about and to inspire them to live out the freedom that active generosity offers. He works on website content and email newsletters, advertising on social media and making sure people using search engines can find us. James also contributes to campaigns such as 40acts and the Generosity Report.
Before joining Stewardship in 2025, James worked in marketing departments of all sizes, from a biotech startup to a large civil engineering consultancy and most recently a learning disability charity.
James lives in Surrey and serves in a local church as a director of their non-profit community café and on their AV team. James is reluctantly making a middle-age transition from football to golf and loves making homemade pizza and good coffee.
