EXPORT, PA — After several years of significant decline, evangelical giving has stabilized, according to the new report from Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research.
The Generosity Landscape: How Evangelicals Give is based on a survey of 1,008 evangelical Protestants. The study explores a number of common assumptions about generosity and giving – many of which do not hold up to scrutiny.
For example, it is commonly thought that raising funds in the evangelical world is more difficult during election years, with many believers funneling some of their giving to politics. But the study found only 12% of evangelicals gave to a political cause, campaign, or candidate during the last election cycle – no different than when it was measured in 2024 (an off-year for national elections). Ninety-five percent who gave nothing to church or charity also gave nothing to politics.
Another myth is that many people give of their time instead of giving money. This study explodes that myth, finding only 2% of evangelicals volunteer with an organization but do not give any money to church or charity.
Related to this, it is a common assumption that seniors do the most volunteering. Among evangelical Protestants, seniors are actually the least likely to volunteer their time through an organization. The most likely to volunteer are those under age 35.
The study also explores how giving to church is impacted by attendance. Among evangelicals who typically attend in person each week, 84% financially support their church. When they attend less often in person, the proportion giving falls – to 69% among those attending one to three times a month, and just 39% when they attend even more sporadically. The proportion less-frequent attendees give also is much lower.
Among evangelicals who primarily attend church virtually (watching online), just 37% financially support a church.
Ron Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research, notes that “conventional wisdom” can be dangerous. “A lot of the ‘conventional wisdom’ about giving and generosity may be conventional, but it is not very wise,” Sellers explained. “Building plans and strategies around myths that are not true will lead to poor outcomes. For example, how many churches are not intentionally trying to engage seniors in volunteer opportunities because they assume seniors will proactively volunteer without prompting?”
Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research began tracking evangelical giving in 2020. From 2020 to 2024, the proportion of evangelicals donating to their church fell by 18%, and the proportion supporting a charity or ministry outside of church dropped by 16%. The 2025 study showed giving has been very similar to 2024.
“What we do not know is whether this stabilization of giving is the beginning of a new normal, or a brief respite in a continuing decline,” warned Mark Dreistadt, president and CEO of Infinity Concepts. “But what has been consistent in every study we have done together is that the single biggest predictor of giving and generosity is how spiritually active and engaged people are.”
Evangelicals who pray regularly, attend worship and small groups, and frequently read or study the Bible are:
284% more likely to give to their church
73% more likely to give to charity outside church
195% more generous in church giving (as a share of income)
400% more generous in charitable giving outside the church
“In every measurable way, spiritual engagement is the strongest catalyst for financial generosity,” said Dreistadt. “In-person attendance is another reflection of the larger trend – when you are engaged personally, it leads to greater commitment, including financial commitment. As evangelicals grow in their prayer life, Bible reading, and fellowship, they become more committed to the work God is doing in the world. The challenge of financial giving is a discipleship challenge as well.”
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