Encouraging church members to tithe pays off for secular organizations as well, according to a report from the Independent Sector and the National Council of Churches (NCC).
Those who give to religious congregations contribute more money to secular organizations than those who don't contribute to a church, according to the "Faith and Philanthropy" report. The same is also true for their time.
Melanie Dietreich, a member of Hillsview Community Church near Detroit, said the report didn't surprise her.
"I always thought of myself as a generous person," Dietreich said, "but I found that after I became a Christian and the more involved I became in church, the more I wanted to give not only at church but in other places, too."
Dietreich said she tithes at church and also gives money to several local nonprofit organizations. She spends nearly 30 hours a month volunteering at special church activities and community organizations, such as a homeless shelter where she helps prepare lunches.
"I think the deeper your faith is, the more called you are to give to others, whether it's your money or time," Dietreich said. "It's really about loving people."
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"Faith and Philanthropy" The report, released by Independent Sector and the National Council of Churches, is the first in the Giving and Volunteering Signature Series, sponsored by MetLife Foundation. The full report can be ordered online. The cost for Independent Sector members is $15.95, or $19.95 for non-members, plus shipping and handling. Independent Sector is a nonprofit coalition of more than 700 national organizations, foundations and corporate philanthropy programs. The coalition works to promote and strengthen philanthropy. The National Council of Churches includes 36 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox denominations representing 140,000 local U.S. congregations. The NCC encourages ecumenical cooperation among Christians.
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More than 4,200 American adults were interviewed for the project, which included questions about household giving and volunteering habits during 2000 and 2001. The survey defined giving to religion to include only houses of worship; church-based social service organizations were categorized under secular organizations. That categorization most likely led to an underestimation of the amount of religious giving, according to Independent Sector.
The "Faith and Philanthropy" report reveals:
- More than 85 percent of religious-giving households support secular organizations;
- Fifty-two percent of all households give to both religious and secular organizations, but those households account for 81 percent of all donations; and
- Households that give to both types of organizations give more to religion ($1,391) compared to those that give only to religion ($1,154).
"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," said Sara E. Melendez, Independent Sector's president and CEO, in a news release.
The survey also found that:
- The top five secular recipients of giving by religion donors are health, human services, youth development, education, and arts and culture;
- Fifty-three percent of givers to religion also donate an average yearly contribution of $249 to health organizations such as hospitals;
- Forty-seven percent of those who give money to churches donate an average of $336 to human service organizations;
- The majority of support for secular organizations comes from households that also give to their local churches; and
- One in 10 Americans volunteer at both church and secular organizations, with church volunteers devoting more time to secular organizations than those volunteers who don't attend church.
Ask for more
Edgar called on church leaders to encourage their members to be more generous during the current debate over faith-based initiatives. President Bush is pushing the faith-based initiative, which would provide government funding to religious organizations for community services such as education and employment training.
"If American churches are serious about wanting to be more of a positive force in our communities, we need to prove it now with our actions," Edgar said. "Pastors need to encourage their flocks to do more in the church and out."
Peace Corps founder Harris Wofford agreed, saying the report cries out for more action.
"There remains a great gap to close between the promises of a good life for all Americans and the reality of life here," said Wofford, who now leads an organization called "America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth."
"Most people volunteer because they are asked," Wofford said. "The big challenge for us is how to make the ask better."
