Report Measures Impact of Faith-Based Giving and Volunteering

Posted by on July 19, 2002

[Philanthropy News Digest]

New Independent Sector Report Measures Impact of Faith-Based Giving and Volunteering

According to a new report from Independent Sector(http://www.independentsector.org/ ) and the National Council of Churches (http://ncccusa.org/ ), households that give to both religious and secular causes donate more money and volunteer more time than households that give to only one type of organization.

Sponsored by Atlantic Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation (http://www.fordfound.org/ ), the Lilly Endowment, and members of Independent Sector, the report, Faith and Philanthropy: The Connection Between Charitable Behavior and Giving to Religion, explores the links between faith and charitable giving and illustrates how the values and beliefs of religious households influence their decisions to make donations and volunteer to all types of nonprofit organizations.

Among its findings, the report, which was based on analysis from Independent Sector’s “Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 2001” telephone survey of 4,200 adults, found that nearly 70 percent of American households give to religious congregations; over 85 percent of religious-giving households support secular organizations; 52 percent of all households give to both religious congregations and secular organizations; households that give to both religious congregations and secular organizations give over three times ($2,247) more than do households that give to only secular organizations ($623), while households that give to both types of institutions give more to religion ($1,391) compared to households that give only to religion ($1,154); and 55 percent of dual-giving households give to at least two other kinds of organizations.

“The extraordinary generosity of religious givers knows very few boundaries,” said Independent Sector president and CEO Sara E. Mel?ndez. “Donors to religion are more generous than those who give only to secular organizations. This research clearly demonstrates that their giving to religion does not detract from giving to secular causes but inspires them to give to all causes.

“Faith and Philanthropy Report Shows Donors to Religion Are Also Most Generous to Other Causes.” Independent Sector Press Release 06/27/02.

http://fdncenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=9300002