A report by Givelify Philanthropic Research & Insights suggests that faith communities in the US could potentially generate up to $30 billion more in donations annually by creating more consistent givers. The report, titled 2026 Giving in Faith, notes that the religious charitable sector already receives over $150 billion in donations each year.
The study found that consistent givers, defined as those who give monthly for most months, account for 81% of giving in churches, despite making up only 27.4% of congregants. This indicates that a small proportion of donors are responsible for the majority of donations.
Researchers observed a significant discrepancy between the actual rate of consistent giving and church leaders' perceptions of it, with leaders estimating that around 53% of their congregation give consistently, nearly double the actual rate. The report highlights the importance of consistent givers to the financial sustainability of congregations.
The findings of the study imply that even modest increases in consistent giving could have a significant impact on the amount of donations received by faith communities, allowing them to support more initiatives and sustain their activities. The research initiative is part of Givelify, an online and mobile donation platform.