A recent report by the Christian charity Stewardship highlights the numerous untapped giving potential amongst practising Christians within the UK. The findings suggest that if this potential is fully realised, it could generate 1000’s more per person annually for charitable causes.
Current giving landscape
The study surveyed 4,056 Christian adults in November 2023 and conducted 15 in-depth interviews to know the present state and potential of charitable giving throughout the UK Christian community. The data reveals that UK Christians currently donate a median of £73 per thirty days (£876 annually), which accounts for 3.2% of their post-tax income. This is barely higher than the £65 monthly average reported by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) for the final UK population.
Potential for increased giving
Practising Christians, who’re defined within the report as those attending church and reading the Bible a minimum of once a month, exhibit the next level of generosity. On average, they provide £167 monthly, amounting to six.3% of their income. This is £102 more per thirty days than the final average.
The report posits that if all Christians adhered to the biblical principle of tithing – giving 10% of their post-tax income – their contributions could rise to £232 per thirty days or £2,784 annually. This figure is greater than 3.5 times the present average donation.
Factors influencing generosity
Regular church attendance and Bible reading significantly boost the propensity to present. The report notes that 71% of practising and church-going Christians donate monthly to Christian causes, in comparison with only 28% of cultural Christians, who attend church less continuously.
Trust in religious institutions also plays a critical role. Among those that trust their church “quite a bit”, 76% donate commonly, in stark contrast to the 16% who trust their church “a bit of”. Similarly, those that have high trust in Christian charities are more likely to present consistently.
Barriers to increased giving
Despite the potential, there are notable barriers to increased generosity. About 50% of respondents cite financial constraints as a big barrier to giving more, while 20% are concerned that a big portion of their donations could also be consumed by administrative costs relatively than reaching beneficiaries. Additionally, 15% lack confidence in how their donations are utilized by recipients.
Closing the gap
The Stewardship report underscores the importance of constructing trust through transparent communication and demonstrating the tangible impact of donations. It concludes that greater engagement with faith and clearer communication from charitable organisations could help close the gap between current and potential giving.
This research reveals a substantial opportunity for increased charitable donations throughout the UK Christian community, emphasising the necessity for higher engagement and trust-building efforts to unlock this dormant potential.
