AlexeiD.Krindatch(akrindatch@aol.

com)
ResearchCoordinator,AssemblyofCanonicalOrthodoxBishopsoftheUnited
StatesofAmerica

TwelveFactsAbouttheGenerosityofOurChurchMembers:
GivinginUSOrthodoxChristianParishes.
Giveanditwillbegiventoyou.Agoodmeasure,presseddown,shakentogetherandrunningover,
willbepouredintoyourlap.Forwiththemeasureyouuse,itwillbemeasuredtoyou.
Luke6:38

Introductionp.2
Fact1.AbouttheDifferenceBetweenWhatOrthodoxChurchMembersSay

TheyBelieveAboutGivingandHowTheyActuallyGivep.3
Fact2.AboutHowGenerousAreUSOrthodoxChurchMembersp.5
Fact3.AbouttheReligiousUpbringingandGiving:TheDifferencebetween
CradleOrthodoxChristiansandConvertstoOrthodoxChristianityp.6
Fact4.AbouttheAgeofChurchMembersandGiving:TheDifference
betweenYoungAdult,AdultandSeniorParishionersp.7
Fact5.AbouttheDifferenceinGivingBetweenHigherandLowerIncomeHouseholdsp.9
Fact6.AboutthePersonalMotivestoGivetoChurchandAboutHowDifferentMotives
toGiveAffectActualGivingp.10
Fact7.AboutHowOrthodoxParishesTalkAboutMoneyandHowItAffectsGiving
ofChurchMembersp.12
Fact8.AboutTrustinChurchLeadershipandHowItAffectsGivingofChurchMembersp.15
Fact9.AboutAdvantagesoftheAdvancePlannedChurchGivingp.17
Fact10.AboutOneEfficientToolthattheOrthodoxChurchesCanUsetoAssure
GuaranteedandPredictableContributionsfromTheirMembersp.20
Fact11.AbouttheMostEfficientTechniqueofEncouragingChurchMemberstoGiveMorep.21
Fact12.AboutDesirableChangesinChurchLifeThatWouldMakeChurchMembers
MoreGenerousinTheirGiving

p. 22
1

Introduction
Twelve Facts about the Generosity of Our Church Members highlights some interesting and
important findings from the 2015 national study Exploring Orthodox Generosity: Giving in US
Orthodox Parishes. 421 Orthodox parish clergy and 2,988 lay church members representing all US
OrthodoxChurchesparticipatedinthisstudy.Thesizeofthesample(nearly3,500respondentstotal)
andrepresentationofvariousOrthodoxjurisdictionsandUSgeographicregionsmakesthisstudythe
largestsurveybasedstudy ofthe OrthodoxChristianChurcheseverconductedin America.Below,
we summarize some interesting facts that have relevance and can be useful for all US Orthodox
parishesnomattertowhatparticularOrthodoxjurisdictiontheybelong.Yet,TwelveFactsabout
theGenerosityofOurChurchMembersisonlyasmallportionofthefullreport.Enjoythissnippet
andthenreadthefullPDFreportthatispostedonline:
http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/research

BeforerevealingTwelveFactsabouttheGenerosityofOurChurchMembers,onequestionneedstobe
answered:Ingeneral,howdoUSOrthodoxChristianChurcheselicitmoneyfromtheirmembers?What
systems do they use? The short answer to this question is that US Orthodox parishes employ very
differentmodelsoffinancialcontributionsoftheirparishioners.Thesurveyaskedparishclergy:Which
modelbestdescribesyourparishssystemoffinancialcontributionsbyparishioners?Fig.1onthenext
pageFig.1showsthatStewardship/Pledgingisthedominantsystemoffinancialcontributionsused

inAmericanOrthodoxChurches:54%ofparishesusethismodel.Theadjustabletithe(i.e.pledginga
certain percentage ofones income rather than an actual dollar amount) is employed nearly by one
fifth(18%)oftheparishes.Theoldfashionedmembershipduesmodelisstillpresentinoneoutof
sixAmericanOrthodoxparishes:16%ofparishesusethismodel.Finally,9%oftheparishesrelyon
nonplannedfreewillofferings:thatis,theseparishessimplypasstheplateandhopefor(andtryto
encourage,ofcourse)thespontaneousgenerosityoftheirmembers.

Fig. 1 "Which model best describes your parish's system of financial contributions by parishioners?"

%ofparishesresponding:
3%

Anyothermodel(orcombinationof
models)
(Notplanned)freewillofferings

100%

9%

80%
Membershipdues:afixedsumpaid
annuallybyafamily/individualtobe
consideredamember
Adjustabletithe:parishionersdonate
acertainpercentageoftheirincome
Stewardship/Pledging:membersmake
annualadvancecommitmenttogivea
certainamount

16%
18%

60%
40%

54%

20%
0%

Fact1.AbouttheDifferenceBetweenWhatOrthodoxChurchMembersSayTheyBelieveAbout
GivingandHowTheyActuallyGive
When asked What is your personal approach to the biblical standard of tithing: i.e. giving 10% of
incometoChurch?,twothirds(67%)ofthestudyparticipantshavechosentheanswersthatthetithe
eitherbelongstoGodoratleastshouldbestrivenbyallChristians.SeeFig.2a
Fig. 2a "What is your personal approach to the biblical standard of tithing: i.e. giving 10% of income to
Church?"

%ofparishionersresponding:
Ipersonallydonotsupporttheideaof
proportionategiving(i.e.donating
certain%ofincome)
Givingacertainproportionofones
income,butnottithing(i.e.not10%)
shouldbeemphasized
Thetitheisanidealtobestrivenby
allChristians,butitisnotobligatory
ThetithebelongstoGod.Inaddition,
Christiansshouldgiveofferingsas
theyareable

16%
100%
80%
60%

27%
28%

40%
20%

39%

0%

Atthesametime,however,answeringthequestionHowdoyoutypicallydecideabouthowmuch
moneytocontributetoyourparish?,muchsmallerpercentage,only27%,ofOrthodoxparishioners
saidthattheypersonallyaspiretotithe.SeeFig.2b
Fig. 2b "How do you typically decide about how much money to contribute to your parish?"

%ofparishionersresponding:
Igivespontaneously:whateverIcan
affordforaperiodoftime

100%

Idecideonacertaindollaramount
monthly

80%

Idecideonacertaindollaramount
annually

60%

Idecideonacertainpercentofmy
incomeannually
Iaspiretotitheandtogive10%ofmy
income

22%
16%

27%

40%

8%

20%

27%

0%

Fact2.AboutHowGenerousAreUSOrthodoxChurchMembers
The average (median) Orthodox household in America gives $2000 annually to its local parish in
regulargivingandalso$100fortheparishscapitalcampaignsorotherspecialprojects.Thatis,half
ofallUSOrthodoxhouseholdsgivemorethan$2100peryearandhalfofthemgivelessthanthatto
theirparishes.Inaddition,atypical(median)Orthodoxhouseholdgives$150tovariousOrthodox
organizations or causes (other than parishes) and $200 to nonOrthodox charities, notforprofit
organizationsorsocialcauses.SeeFig.3a.

Fig. 3a "Last year, how much money did your household contribute to each of the following?"

Average(median)dollaramountgivenby
AmericanOrthodoxhouseholdstovariouscauses.
ToanynonOrthodoxcharities,
nonforprofitorganizations,social
causes
Toanyotherthanyourparish
Orthodoxorganization/cause
Toyourparishforacapital
campaignorspecialproject

$3,000

$200

$100

$150

$2,000

$1,000

$2,000

Toyourparishinregulargiving
$0

When giving is calculated as a percentage of income, the average (median) American Orthodox
household gives 3% of its income annually (before taxes) to a local parish community in regular
giving and also 0.15% for the parishs capital campaigns or special projects. In addition, a typical
Orthodox household gives 0.23% of its income to various Orthodox organizations or causes (other
thanparishes)and0.3%tononOrthodoxcharities,notforprofitorganizationsorsocialcauses.See
Fig.3b.Thatis,thetotalgivingofAmericanOrthodoxChristianhouseholdsbothtoOrthodoxand
nonOrthodoxorganizationsandcausesaveragesatabout3.7%ofatypicalhouseholdsincome.

Fig. 3b "Last year, how much money did your household contribute to each of the following?"

Average(median)percentageoftheOrthodoxhouseholds
incomesgiventovariouscauses.
ToanynonOrthodoxcharities,
4%
nonforprofitorganizations,social
causes
Toanyotherthanyourparish
3%
Orthodoxorganization/cause

0.30%

0.15%

0.23%

2%

Toyourparishforacapital
campaignorspecialproject

3.00%
1%

Toyourparishinregulargiving

0%

Fact3.AbouttheReligiousUpbringingandGiving:TheDifferencebetweenCradleOrthodox
ChristiansandConvertstoOrthodoxChristianity.
ConvertstoOrthodoxygivenearlytwiceasmuchannuallytotheirparishesthancradleOrthodox
whenmeasuredinactualdollaramounts($2,800versus$1,500peraveragemedianhousehold)and
theygivemorethantwiceasmuchwhendonationsaremeasuredasapercentageofahouseholds
income(4.9%versus2.2%).SeeFig.4aand4b.
Fig. 4a Average (Median) Annual per Household Contributions to Parishes in Regular Giving:
"Cradle" Orthodox Christians versus Converts to Orthodox Christianity

$2,800
$3,000
Contributions

$2,500
$2,000

$1,500

$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
CradleOrthodox

ConvertstoOrthodoxy

ReligiousUpbringing

Fig. 4b Average (Median) Percentage of Households Incomes Given to Parishes in Regular Giving:
Differences Between "Cradle" Orthodox Christians and Converts to Orthodox Christianity

%ofincomegivento
parish

4.89%
5.00%
4.00%

2.25%

3.00%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00%
CradleOrthodox

ConvertstoOrthodoxy

ReligiousUpbringing

Fact4.AbouttheAgeofChurchMembersandGiving:TheDifferencebetweenYoungAdult,
AdultandSeniorParishioners.
The age of church members is an important factor in church giving. Overall, grey haired
parishionersgivemuchmorethanyoungerchurchmembers.Morespecifically,adultparishioners
(age 3564) give more than young adults (age 1834) and senior citizens (age 65+) give more than
thoseintheageof3564.Thisfactistrueforbothmeasuresofgiving:inactualdollaramountsandas
a percentage of household income. Fig. 5a shows, when measured in actual dollar amount, the
average (median) households of senior citizens (age 65+) give 3.3times more to their parishes than
theaveragehouseholdsofyoungadultsinage1834:$4000versus$1200.
Fig. 5a Average (Median) Annual per Household Contributions to a Parish by the Age Categories

$4,000

Contributions

$5,000
$3,000

$4,000
$3,000
$2,000

$1,200

$1,000
$0

1834yearsold

3564yearsold

65+yearsold

AgeCategoriesofParishioners

Fig. 5b indicates, by percentage of income, the average (median) households of senior citizens (age
65+)give1.6timesmoretotheirparishesthantheaveragehouseholdsofyoungadultsinage1834:
4%versus2.5%.

Fig. 5b Average (Median) Percentage of Households Incomes Given to the Parishes:

%ofincomegiventoparish

Differences Between Age Categories

5.0%

4.0%

4.0%
3.0%

3.0%
2.5%

2.0%
1.0%
0.0%
1834yearsold

3564yearsold

65+yearsold

AgeCategoriesofParishioners

Fact5.AbouttheDifferenceinGivingBetweenHigherandLowerIncomeHouseholds.
Predictably,whenmeasuredinabsolutedollaramounts,thehouseholdsthatearnmoremoneygive
typicallymoretotheirparishesthanhouseholdswithlowerincomes.However,whendonationstoa
parish are measured as a percentage of income, higher income households are less generous than
lower income households. An average (median) Orthodox household earning between $30,000 and
$49,999 gives 3.75% of its income (before taxes) to the parish, whereas households in the $90,000
$109,999incomecategorygiveonly2.5%.SeeFig.6a.
Fig. 6a Average (Median) Percentage of Household's Income Given to the Parishes

5%
4%

3.75%
3.33%
2.50%

3%

2.50%

2%
1%
0%
$30,000to$49,999

$50,000to$69,999

$70,000to$89,999

$90,000to$109,999

AnnualHouseholdsIncome

At the same time, church members with higher incomes are more supportive of pledging and
committing in advance their church contributions (which is better for the parishes) than lower
income households. One of the survey questions asked church members Do you approve of the
practiceofaskingparishionerstofilloutannualpledgecardsregardingchurchgivingfortheyear?
Only50%ofparishionersfromthehouseholdsearninglessthan$30,000ayearrepliedapproveto
thisquestionincomparisonwith67%oftherespondentswhosehouseholdsearnmorethan$110,000.
SeeFig.6b.

Fig. 6b Attitudes Towards Pledging Among Parishioners with Various Income Levels
"Do you approve of the practice of asking parishioners to fill out annual pledge cards (commitment
cards) regarding church giving for the year?"

100%

Disapprove

26%

27%

22%

21%

21%

17%

20%

20%

14%

16%

80%

Notsure,have 60%
noopinion
40%
Approve
20%

24%

19%

54%

58%

59%

65%

67%

50%

Lessthan
$30,000

$30,000
$49,999

$50,000
$69,999

$70,000
$89,999

$90,000
$109,999

Morethan
$110,000

0%

Annualhouseholdincome

Fact6.AboutPersonalMotivestoGivetoChurchandAboutHowDifferentMotivestoGive
AffectActualGiving.

When it comes to the major personal motives of giving, 60% of parishioners give to the Church
becausethisispartoftheirreligiousconvictionsandtheybelievethatitiswhatGodexpectsofus.
The remaining 40% of church members contribute to their parishes mainly because of pragmatic
reason to pay bills and to take care of the various needs of their parish communities. However,
thereisasignificantdifferenceinthemotivesforchurchgivingbetweenconvertstoOrthodoxyand
cradleOrthodoxy.ManymoreconvertstoOrthodoxythancradleOrthodoxgivebecauseitiswhat
God expect of us: 70% versus 52%. Vice versa, many more cradle Orthodox than converts to
Orthodoxygivebecausetheirparishcommunityhasneedsthatshouldbeaddressed.SeeFig.7a.

10

Fig. 7a "Which of these statements comes closer to your view?"

%ofrespondentssaying
IgivetotheChurchbecause
myparishcommunityhas
needsthatshouldbe
addressed

100%
48%

60%
40%

IgivetotheChurchbecauseit
iswhatGodexpectsofus

30%

40%

80%

70%

60%

20%

52%

0%
AllOrthodox
Church
members

Convertsto CradleOrthodox
Orthodoxy

Different personal motives for church giving have a significant impact on how much church
membersactuallygive.ParishionerswhogiveoutofapersonalbeliefthatitiswhatGodexpectsof
us contribute much more than those who give in order to simply pay the bills and address the
needsoftheirparishes.ThisfindingistrueforbothcradleOrthodoxandconvertstoOrthodoxy.
SeeFig.7b
Fig. 7b Major Motives to Give to the Church versus Actual Giving:
"Which of these statements comes closer to your views?"

IgivetotheChurch,becauseitiswhatGodexpectsofus
IgivetotheChurchbecausemyparishcommunityhasneedsthatshouldbeaddressed
Average(Median)AnnualperHouseholdContributionstoaParish
$3,000
$3,000

$2,000

$2,500

$2,000

$2,000

$1,200
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0

Convertswhogive
becauseitiswhatGod
expectsofus

Convertswhogive
becauseparishhas
needs

CradleOrthodoxwho CradleOrthodoxwho
givebecauseitiswhat givebecauseparish
Godexpectsofus
hasneeds

11

Thisfindingisalsotruewhencontributionsaremeasuredasanactualdollaramountandwhenthey
arecalculatedaspercentageofincome.SeeFig.7c.

Fig. 7c Major Motives to Give to the Church versus Actual Giving:

"Which of these statements comes closer to your views?"

IgivetotheChurch,becauseitiswhatGodexpectsofus
IgivetotheChurchbecausemyparishcommunityhasneedsthatshouldbeaddressed

Average(Median)PercentageofIncomeGiventoaParish
6%

5.00%

5%
4%

3.00%
2.50%

3%

1.67%
2%
1%
0%

Convertswhogive Convertswhogive CradleOrthodox

CradleOrthodox
becauseitiswhat becauseparishhas whogivebecauseit whogivebecause
Godexpectsofus
needs
iswhatGodexpects parishhasneeds
ofus

Fact7.AboutHowOrthodoxParishesTalkAboutMoneyandHowItAffectsGivingofChurch
Members.
USOrthodoxparishesusetwodifferentapproacheswhentheyencourageparishionerstodonateto
theChurch.Inanutshell,theyeitheraskchurchmemberstogiveforspiritualreasonsortogiveto
address parishs needs. These two approaches are nearly equally common in American Orthodox
churchlife.AnsweringthequestionWhichofthesestatementscomesclosertohowyourparishtalks
aboutmoney?53%ofrespondentschosetheanswerWhenmyparishtalksaboutdonatingmoney,
ittalksmostlyaboutpeoplesresponsibilitytoaddresstheneedsoftheparish,while47%ofstudy
participantschoosetheanswerWhenmyparishtalksaboutdonatingmoney,ittalksmostlyabout
visionfortheparishsmissionandopportunitiesforspiritualgrowth.
12

Fig. 8a "Which of these statements comes closer to how your parish talks about money?"
%ofparishionersresponding:

Whenmyparishtalksabout
donatingmoney,ittalksmostly
aboutvisionforparishsmission
andopportunitiesforspiritual

100%
80%

47%

60%

Whenmyparishtalksabout
donatingmoney,ittalksmostly
aboutpeoplesresponsibilityto
addresstheneedsoftheparish

40%

53%

20%
0%

The parishes that encourage members to be more generous because it will enhance the churchs
mission and create more opportunities for spiritual growth receive MUCH HIGHER contributions
from parishioners than the parishes asking members to give because the various needs of a parish
community should be addressed. Fig. 8b shows that the average (median) per household annual
contributioninparisheswheretalksaboutmoneyaremostlyaboutvisionfortheparishsmission,
future and opportunities for spiritual growth is $2,400. To compare, the per household average
annualcontributioninparisheswheretalksaboutmoneyaremostlyaboutpeoplesresponsibilityto
addresstheneedsoftheparishisonly$1,650.
Fig. 8b Major Motives Used by the Parishes to Encourage Donations versus Actual Giving
Average(Median)AnnualperHouseholdContributionstoaParish
$2,400
$3,000
$2,500

$1,650

$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0

EmphasisonchurchsEmphasisonaddressing
missionandspiritual
parishsneeds
growth
Majormotivesusedbytheparishesto
encouragedonationsfrommembers

13

When contributions to a parish are measured as a percentage of a households income, the

relationshipisthesame.Thatis,themembersoftheparishesthatteachtobemoregenerousbecause
it will enhance churchs mission and create more opportunities for spiritual growth donate to their
churches significantly higher percentage of a households income (3.33% on average) than
parishioners in the churches that ask to contribute because various needs of a parish community
shouldbeaddressed(theygiveanaverage2.5%ofthehouseholdsincome).
Fig. 8c Major Motives to Give to the Church versus Actual Giving
"Which of these statements comes closer to your views?"

When my parish talks about donating money, it talks mostly about vision for the parishs
mission,futureandopportunitiesforspiritualgrowth;
Whenmyparishtalksaboutdonatingmoney,ittalksmostlyaboutpeoplesresponsibilityto
addresstheneedsoftheparish.
Average(Median)PercentageofIncomeGiventoaParish

5%

3.33%
2.50%

4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
Emphasisonchurchsmission Emphasisonaddressing
andspiritualgrowth
parishsneeds

Majormotivesusedbytheparishestoencourage
donationsfrommembers

14

Fact8.AboutTrustinChurchLeadershipandHowItAffectsGivingofChurchMembers.
TwothirdsoftheChurchmembers(66%)arecomfortablewithsimplygivingtotheChurchwithout
askingwhatfor,becausetheyfullytrustChurchleadershipintermsofhowtheircontributionswill
beused.Differently,foraboutonethirdofparishioners(34%)itisimportanttohaveaclearpictureof
theusageoftheirgivingtotheChurch.TheybelieveWhenIgivetotheChurch,Iwouldliketosee
areturnoninvestment:i.e.howmymoneyisbeingusedandwhataretheoutcomes.SeeFig.9a.
Fig. 9a "Which of these statements comes closer to how your view?"

%ofparishionersresponding:
WhenIgivetotheChurch,Iwouldlike
toseeareturnoninvestment:i.e.how
mymoneyisbeingusedandwhatare
theoutcomes

100%

34%
80%
60%

Overall,Iamcomfortablesimply
donatingtotheChurch,becauseItrust
Churchleadershipinhowmy
contributionswillbeused

40%

66%

20%
0%

The parishioners who fully trust Church leadership in terms of how their contributions are being
used are significantly more generous in their giving to the parishes than the church members who
holdthepositionthatwhenIgivetotheChurch,Iwouldliketoseeareturnoninvestment:i.e.how
mymoneyisbeingusedandwhataretheoutcomes.SeeFig.9band9c.

The average (median) per household annual contribution of parishioners who trust Church
leadershipinhowtheirmoneyisbeingusedis$2,200.Tocompare,theperhouseholdaverageannual
contribution of parishioners who want to have control over how their money is being used is only
$1,500.

When contributions to a parish are measured as a percentage of a households income, the

parishioners who trust Church leadership in how their contributions will be used give on average
3.6%oftheirincometotheirparishes.Differently,thechurchmemberswhowanttohaveacontrol
overhowtheirmoneyisbeingusedgiveonly2.33%.
15

Fig. 9b Desire to Have Greater Control Over the Usage of Contributions to Church versus Actual Giving
"Which of these statements comes closer to your views?"

WhenIgivetotheChurch,Iwouldliketoseeareturnoninvestment:i.e.howmymoneyis
beingusedandwhataretheoutcomes;
Overall,IamcomfortablesimplydonatingtotheChurch,becauseItrustChurchleadership
inhowmycontributionswillbeused.
Average(Median)AnnualperHouseholdContributionstoaParish

$3,000

$2,200

$2,500
$1,500

$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0

Respondentswhowanttoseehow Respondentswhoarecomfortable
theirmoneyisbeingused
simplydonatingmoneytoChurch
Whatparishionersthinkaboutthecontrolovertheusageofthe
contributionstoChurch

Fig. 9c Desire to Have Greater Control Over the Usage of Contributions to Church versus Actual Giving

Average(Median)PercentofHouseholdsIncomeGiventoaParish

3.60%
4.00%

2.33%

3.00%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00%
Respondentswhowanttoseehow Respondentswhoarecomfortable
theirmoneyisbeingused
simplydonatingmoneytoChurch

Whatparishionersthinkaboutthecontrolovertheir
contributionstoChurch

16

Fact9.AboutAdvantagesoftheAdvancePlannedChurchGiving.
USOrthodoxparisheswillbenefitgreatlyiftheycouldconvincetheirmemberstoplaninadvance
on an annual basis their church giving. This will not only allow parishes to have a clearer and
predictable picture oftheir finances for thecoming year, but itwould actually result in larger total
incomefromthecontributionsofparishioners.

Fig.10ashows,62%ofparishionersplantheirchurchgivinginadvance(onanannualbasis):either
as certain percentage of their income (35%) or as a certain dollar amount (27%). At the same time,
38% of the respondents give more spontaneously: either deciding about contributions every month
(16%)orsimplygivingwhatevertheycanaffordatanyperiodtime(22%).
Fig. 10a Planning of Giving to a Parish by the Church Members
"In general, how do you make decisions about how much money to contribute to you parish?"

%ofrespondentssaying
Igivespontaneously:whatever
Icanaffordforaperiodoftime
Idecideonacertaindollar
amountmonthly
Idecideonacertaindollar
amountannually
Idecideonacertainpercentof
incomeannually
Iaspiretotithe(togive10%of
income)

22%
100%
80%

16%

60%

27%

40%

8%

20%

27%

0%

Fig.10bshowsthattheparishionerswhoplantheirgivinginadvanceonanannualbasisandallocate
their planned contributions as a percentage of income give significantly more than those who plan
their donations also in advance but based on a certain dollar amount: $2,600 versus $1,800 per
average (median) household. In turn, the parishioners who decide about their contributions to a
parish spontaneously give much less (only $535 per average household) than the church members
whoplantheircontributionsinadvance.

17

Fig. 10b Advance Planning of Giving to Parishes and Total Amount of Contributions
"In general, how do you make decisions about how much money to contribute to you parish?"

Average(Median)AnnualperHouseholdContributionstoaParish
$4,000

$4,000

$3,500
$3,000

$2,600

$2,500

$1,800

$2,000

$1,545

$1,500
$1,000

$535

$500
$0

Thosewho
aspiretotithe

Thosewho

Thosewho

Thosewho Thosewhogive

decideon
decideon
decideon spontaneously
certain%of certaindollar certaindollar whatevercan
income anountannually amount
annually
monthly

afford

Approachesofparishionerstoplanningtheirgivingtoparishes

18

Whengivingismeasuredasapercentageofincome,thisfindingstillholdstrue.Thatis,parishioners
whoplantheircontributionswellinadvancegiveagreatershareoftheirincometotheparishesthan
the church members who decide about their giving on a monthly basis or give spontaneously:
whatevertheycanaffordforaperiodoftime.SeeFig.10c.
Fig. 10c Advance Planning of Giving and Actual Contributions Measured as % of the Household's
Income

Average(Median)PercentageofHouseholdsIncomeGiventoaParish
7%

6.58%

6%
5%
4%

3.75%
2.75%

3%

2.00%

2%

1.00%

1%
0%

Parishioners Parishioners Parishioners Parishioners Parishioners

whoaspireto whodecideon whodecideon whodecideon whogive
tithe
certain%of certaindollar certaindollar spontaneously:
income
amount
amount
whatevercan
annually
annually
monthly
afford
Approachesofparishionerstoplanningtheirgivingtoparishes

19

Fact10.AboutOneEfficientToolthattheOrthodoxChurchesCanUsetoAssureGuaranteed
andPredictableContributionsfromTheirMembers.
The practice of automated transfers of church members contributions from their accounts into
accountsoftheirparishesisvirtuallynonpresentinUSOrthodoxChurches.Yet,thestudyrevealed
that an absolute majority of parishioners (54%) would agree with a practice of monthly automatic
transfers from their checking accounts or credit cards into a parish account. Only one in three
respondents(33%)said,Idontlikethisidea.Theremaining13%werenotsureaboutthisoption.

Remarkably, even among church members who reject in principle the practice of filling out annual
pledgecardsregardingchurchgiving,onethirdwouldstillacceptthesystemofmonthlyautomatic
withdrawalsfromtheirpersonalaccountsintoaparishsaccount.SeeFig.11.

Fig. 11 "How would you feel about electronic transfers of your pledges: that is, the money would be
automatically transferred each month from your checking account or your credit card into your parish
account?"

%ofrespondentssaying
Idontlike
thisidea

100%
80%

11%

Iamnotsure
60%

ItisOkay
Idefinitely
likethisidea

26%

33%

40%
20%

54%

13%

25%
24%

13%

38%

30%

18%
15%

0%

Allrespondents

Respondentswho

Respondentswho

approveideaof

disapproveideaof

annualpledgecards annualpledgecards

20

Fact11.AbouttheMostEfficientTechniqueofEncouragingChurchMemberstoGiveMore.

Out of the various techniques and tactics that a parish can use to achieve greater giving from
members, by far most efficient is approaching and asking members in person by the clergy (either
parishpriestorbishop).40%ofrespondentsreportedthatIfIwerepersonallyaskedbymyparish
priestorbishoptheywouldlikelygivemore.SeeFig.12.

Fig. 11 Efficiency of the Various Techniques to Increase Giving to Church

"Think of yourself: which of the following is more and which is less likely to increase your
contributions?"

%respondentssaying:
LikelythatIwillgivemore

Neutral,notsure

IfIwerepersonallyaskedbymyparishpriestor
bishop

UnlikelythatIwillgivemore

40%

32%

28%

IfIwerepersonallyaskedbyparishcouncil
presidentormember

27%

32%

39%

IfIheardagoodsermononstewardshipandchurch
giving

27%

34%

39%

Ifagoodstoryonchurchgivingwouldbepublished
inparishnewsletteroronwebsite

21%

Ifmyfellowparishionerswouldsetpersonal
exampleandtestifypubliclyabouttheirexperiences
ofbeingmoregenerous

20%

34%

29%

45%

51%

21

Fact12.AboutDesirableChangesinChurchLifeThatWouldMakeChurchMembersMore
GenerousinTheirGiving.
OneofthesurveyquestionsaskedthestudyparticipantsArethereanydesirablechangesinchurch
lifeunderwhichyouwouldconsiderdonatingmoremoneytoyourparish?Therespondentswere
giventhelistof17hypotheticalchangesandimprovementstoconsiderthatcouldpossiblyincrease
their giving. With regard to each item on this list, respondents can choose one of three answers: a)
Yes, would give more (definitely or may be); b) I am satisfied with this area: no need for
improvement;c)(Notsatisfied,but)wouldnotgivemore.

Fig.13showsthatthetopfivedesirablechangesintheOrthodoxChurchlifethataremostlikelyto
increasechurchgivingofparishionersare:
Parishs life being less insular and isolated from other Orthodox parishes (more joint
programswithotherOrthodoxparishes);
Parishslifebeingmoreconnectedtothewiderlocalcommunity(moreattentiontothesocial
outreachintolocalcommunity);
Stronger emphasis on Orthodox evangelism and mission in America (more attention to
religiousoutreach,missionandevangelism);
StrongeremphasisonbuildinggenuineChristiancommunitywithinaparish(greatersenseof
parishcommunity);
Parishs life being more abundant and fulfilling beyond worship services (having more
programs).

With regard to all these areas, at least 40% of parishioners reported that they would increase their
givingifthemoneywouldbeusedtoimprovetheseaspectsofthechurchlife.

22

Fig. 13 "Are there any desirable changes or circumstances under which you would consider donating
more money to your parish?"

%ofrespondentssaying:Yes,wouldgivemore(definitelyormaybe)
0%

10%

20%

Ifmoneywouldbeusedtocreatejointprogramsand
ministrieswithotherOrthodoxparishesinourarea
Ifparishwouldpaymoreattentiontosocialoutreach
intolocalcommunity
Ifparishwouldpaymoreattentiontoreligious
outreach,missionandevangelism

42%

Iftherewereagreatersenseofparishcommunity

41%

40%

50%

47%

42%

Ifmoneywouldbeusedtoaddprofessional
personelltohavemoreprogramsandministries
IfIfeltmyparishlifewasmorespiritually
nourishing
Ifmyparishwouldbebetteratengagingyouthand
youngadultmembers
Ifmoneywouldbeusedtosupportnational
Orthodoxinstitutionsandministries
Ifthereweremoretransparencyinhowfinancial
decisionsaredoneandmoneyspent
Ifmyparishwouldpaymoreattentiontothosewho
arenewtoOrthodoxfaith:i.e.converts
Ifmyparishwouldbemorewelcomingtonew
members
IfIpersonallyhadgreaterinfluenceonhowmoney
isspend
Ifmyparishwouldpaymoreattentiontosenior
members
Ifmyparishwouldbebetteratthankingpeoplewho
givetheirtime/talent/money
IfwewouldusemoreEnglishinworshipservices

30%

40%
39%
39%
37%
36%
31%
29%
27%
26%
24%
14%

Ifworshipservicesweremoretraditional

12%

Ifworshipsevicesweremoremodern

11%

23