Have you ever wondered how much other Christians give? Maybe you wanted to find out whether they give more or less than you. Or perhaps you wanted to know what motivates their giving and why they give what they give.
If so, you’ll be happy to hear we can now bring some clarity to that question through our recently published Stewardship Generosity Report. It’s our very first annual survey on Christian giving in the UK and it lifts the lid on the fascinating truth about how much Christians give and why.
Strong connection between faith and generosity
According to the Generosity Report, Christians in the UK give an average of £73 each month to various charitable causes. This equates to 3.2% of their income after tax and is £8 more than the average £65 per month given by the general UK population. From this level of giving Christians allocate £60 or 2.5% of their income to Christian causes, including churches and Christian charities, and £14 or 0.6% to secular causes.
It’s a really positive picture of Christian giving when compared to the general population, but you might find it surprising that Christians aren’t giving 10% of their income, often referred to as a tithe . The report certainly shows that not all Christians give following the tithing practice strictly. In fact, only five out of fifteen interviewees even understood tithing as giving 10% of their income, and only three of those five had giving 10% as a personal goal. There are some who do meticulously calculate and donate 10% of their income, but the vast majority give what they feel is right, influenced more by their personal circumstances than a fixed percentage.
The report also uncovered some surprising distinctions when it came to the intersection of faith and giving. For instance, the level of spiritual engagement a person has significantly impacts their levels of generosity. Because of this we decided to break down the types of givers into three categories based upon the regularity of their faith practice. When we did this, we saw a difference in the amount of giving related to how often they attended church and read their Bible.
- Practising Christians, who attend church and read the Bible at least once a month, give an average of £167 per month, which is 6.26 % of their income. This breaks down into £141 or 5.2% for Christian causes and £26 or 1.1% for secular causes.
- Church-going Christians, who attend church and read the Bible less frequently, give lower amounts compared to Practising Christians, at 3.04% of their income.
- Cultural Christians are those who identify as Christians but rarely attend church. These Christians give an average of 1.17% of their income.
Stories of individual generosity
The report also reveals some personal stories that highlight the reasons why Christians give what they give. These stories offer a valuable glimpse into how individuals' faith and life experiences shape their approach to generosity.
Melika, a Christian from the West Midlands, gives 10% of her income every month. She does this out of a faith-driven sense of responsibility and joy, not out of duty. Melika believes that her giving is an act of worship and obedience to God's Word. She describes herself as a ‘faith-driven person’ putting God first in everything she does.
Abby, from the same region, didn't give to any charities before becoming a Christian. But since then her church has taught her the Christian approach to managing money and giving. Now, she gives to her church using a monthly Direct Debit and supports various church projects. Abby emphasises that her giving is about ensuring that others experience the blessing of faith, just as she has.
Grant, despite his doubts around faith, started attending church weekly again after seeing the diligence of his church leaders. This trust encouraged him to give generously to his church, knowing that his contributions would be used wisely. Grant's renewed faith and trust in his church's leadership played a crucial role in his decision to give.
Robert loves giving and often discusses it with his friends, colleagues and family. He encourages them to give more, especially to his church, as a means of preserving its physical architecture. Robert has instilled the joy of giving in his children and grandchildren, showing them the importance of generosity. He gives to his church and ensures his grandchildren see the value in helping others.
Do Christians really give more?
Well, yes and no.
Our research certainly suggests that Christians give more than the rest of the general UK population, and that is a really positive picture in terms of demonstrating the deep levels of generosity embedded in our faith. Practising Christians are giving £102 a month more than the average UK giver!
But the percentage levels of giving are not in line with what we would have expected based on the Christian teaching around tithing. We believe that Christian giving could be greatly increased across the country to bring about more Kingdom impact.
We’re currently working with our church and charity partners to help them be good to give to, to increase transparency and trust, and to establish deeper connections with their donors because these are the key factors that the report highlights as barriers to further giving.
But what can you do?
Ultimately generosity is a spiritual discipline that should bring us joy (2 Corinthians 9:6–7) and our aim should be to become the best stewards of what God has freely given to us. It’s not just about the amount given; it’s also about the happy heart and the faith behind it.
One of the key takeaways from the report is that people who talk about their giving are more generous. So, we’re starting the conversation with a range of blogs and resources to get people talking and we encourage you to join us.
If you're interested in learning more, dive into the full report to explore the rich data and inspiring stories of generosity within the Christian community.
Share the report with people in your church and encourage your church leader to read and lean into the recommendations and the resources.
Other blogs in this series
Generous Newsletter
Monthly emails for supporters. Inspiration, practical tools and guidance to support the causes you love in more meaningful ways.
Matt Holderness
Matt joined Stewardship in 2022 with over twenty years of marketing experience from roles at Kendal College and Capernwray Bible School. He has degrees in Business and Marketing, Theology, Management and most recently a Masters in Hermeneutics.
Through raising awareness of Stewardship’s services, Matt helps people explore the impact their generosity can have on the church and Christian charities. He’s passionate about supporting Evangelism and Bible causes, and has a particular interest in charities that are helping people in Poverty and Debt in the UK.
