The 2nd Annual State of the Plate research was highlighted in over 300 news stories/articles/interviews and has been reported in TV news reports and on 2000 radio stations.

CLICK HERE to order the full Executive Summary with 10 Graphs

STATE of the PLATE Research: 5 Key Findings

on Church Giving, Budgeting, and Generosity Initiatives

For Immediate Release

By Brian Kluth, Director of research and Author of the bestselling www.GenerousLife.info Bible devotional

Contact: bk@kluth.org  Cell: 719-930-4000

Colorado Springs, CO - A “new normal” is emerging in the church world when it comes to church giving, budgets, and generosity initiatives.   The second annual STATE of the PLATE, a collaborative research project by Brian Kluth’s Maximum Generosity ministry and Christianity Today International, received responses from 1,017 churches of varying sizes and from every region of the country. The survey asked church pastors, staff, and leaders to report on their church giving, budgeting, and generosity initiatives.  

In the latest research, released in March 2010, five major trends emerged:

1)    The poor economy is hurting a growing number of churches.

While some media headlines suggest signs of improvements in the economy, the offering plates at many churches do not:

• The number of churches reporting a decline in giving this past year has increased to 38% of churches surveyed, compared to 29% at the same time a year ago.

• Only 36% of churches saw giving increase this past year, compared to 47% a year ago.

·        Megachurches suffered this year more than ever before.  Nearly half (47%) of churches with 2,000 to 5,000 in weekly worship attendance saw a decrease in their giving this year compared to only 23% the year before.  More than ever before, many megachurches are beginning to experience some financial strain and pain because of the economy.

·        Pacific states and Mountain states struggled most. Pacific states (CA, OR, WA, AK, HI) were hardest hit, with 55% of churches reporting decreased giving (in 2009, Pacific states also were hardest hit among the country’s regions, but only 34% reported a drop in their giving). In 2010, the next hardest-hit area were the Mountain States (NV, UT, CO, ID, WY, MT), where 48% of churches saw a decrease in giving.

2) Many churches say December year-end giving fell short.

While Rick Warren’s December appeal to more than 100,000 e-mail recipients helped his church adequately close the gap on a year-end budget shortfall, many other churches weren’t so fortunate:

• 32% of churches surveyed said that their December year-end giving “missed” their expectations.

• Only 23% of churches indicated that year-end giving surpassed their expectation.

• With nearly a third missing giving expectations at the end of 2009, many churches likely entered 2010 looking for ways to slow their church spending.

3) Some churches decreased their budgets while others increased budgets.

While a growing number of churches trimmed budgets, others increased theirs heading into 2010:

• 32% said they made budgets cuts of 1% to 20%. A year ago, only 14% said the same.

• The top three cuts came in the areas of travel and conferences, ministry programs, and expansion/renovation projects.

• 24% of churches kept their budgets the same as last year.

• Surprisingly, 45% of churches increased their budgets for the coming year, compared to 23% who said the same a year ago. Churches that increased their budgets did so primarily in the areas of benevolence giving, ministry programs, and missions giving.

4) More churches plan to preach and teach on finances and generosity in a variety of ways.

The Bible provides more than 2,000 verses on finances and generosity and a growing number of churches say they planned or considered planning to share God’s Word on these subjects through the following: 

• Preaching, 75%

• Financial classes/courses/groups, 65%

• Sharing a Bible verse during the offering, 62%

• Distributing pamphlets, 51%

• Making financial counselors available, 48%

• Conducting an annual stewardship drive, 48%

• Showing videos in the worship service, 44%

• Giving families a generosity devotional, 43%

• Providing estate planning materials/seminars, 44%

• Providing stewardship training for leaders, 40%

5) More churches are using outside resources and guidance.

More churches say they’re seeking outside resources to help with church finances, giving, and generosity. The top resources identified by respondents:

• Dave Ramsey, 58%

• Crown Financial Ministries, 54%

• Denominational resources, 44%

• Brian Kluth/Maximum Generosity, 43%

• Church Law & Tax Report, 41%

• Your Church magazine, 35%

Special note: There were two surveys for the 2010 www.STATEofthePLATE.info research.  The 2^nd survey, a “View from the Pew,” surveyed 1,000 Christian households on finances, debts, and giving/tithing.  The Executive Summary and key findings of this report will be released by March 26, 2010, on the www.STATEofthePLATE.info website.

BRIAN KLUTH is a Pastor, Author, Researcher, and Radio Speaker for the www.GiveWithJoy.org eDevotional.  His bestselling www.GenerousLife.org 40 Day devotional has been used by over 1300 churches to inspire generosity and increase giving.  He also is the founder of www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org website and free eNewsletter for pastors and church leaders.  Contact information: bk@kluth.org Cell: 719-930-4000.

© Brian Kluth | MAXIMUM Generosity | 5201 Pinon Valley Road | Colorado Springs, CO 80919   Cell 719-930-4000  Email: bk@kluth.org  Website: www.STATEofthePLATE.info