TL;DR:
Many churches are facing financial strain—not because generosity is obsolete, but because participation in church giving has declined. Research shows discipleship and generosity rise together: the more engaged people are in spiritual practices, the more likely they are to give faithfully. The primary solution isn’t running side businesses to raise money—it’s deepening engagement and equipping members with simple, accessible ways to practice generosity.
The Challenge
Every pastor has seen the numbers. Giving participation is shrinking across America, and the financial burden often falls on a smaller group of older donors. According to empty tomb, inc., after-tax per capita income has increased 171% since 1968, yet church giving as a percentage of income has dropped from 3.02% to 1.72%. 1.
Meanwhile, thousands of churches close their doors each year—not always because of finances, but often due to aging congregations, declining attendance, and disengagement.
The Key Question
If Americans have more disposable income than ever, why are they giving less to their churches?
A recent study, The Giving Gap (2024), offers an answer: “There is a very strong correlation between regular engagement in spiritual activities and giving.” 2. Evangelicals who regularly read Scripture, pray, attend worship, and join small groups are twice as likely to give to charity and nearly three times more likely to give to their church than those who don’t.
In short: discipleship and generosity rise together.
Engagement is the Solution
The churches that thrive financially are the ones that thrive spiritually. When members are engaged in worship, Scripture, prayer, and community, giving naturally flows out of that spiritual health.
If you want a stronger church budget, don’t start with a thrift store—open new pathways for discipleship and connection.
How OnlineGiving.org Helps
At OnlineGiving.org, we believe that discipleship requires engagement, and engagement requires tools. That’s why our platform is built not just to process gifts, but to strengthen connection:
-
Recurring giving that stabilizes budgets.
-
Mobile-first design that meets people where they are.
-
Custom forms for prayer requests, sign-ups, and next steps that foster deeper involvement.
-
Ministry AI tools that highlight giving trends and opportunities to engage donors.
-
Text Marketing & Giving make participation easier than ever.
As our co-founder Stephen Ballard says:
“We are an engagement solutions company that also happens to have the best processing platform in the industry.”
The Bottom Line
The path to financial health doesn't start with entrepreneurial side ventures—it starts with engagement. The more engaged your people are with Scripture, worship, and community, the more likely they are to live generous lives.
And with the right tools, your church can disciple members more effectively, grow generosity, and secure a sustainable future for ministry.
Call us at (615) 206-4000 or email support@onlinegiving.org to set up your free demonstration and see how OnlineGiving.org can help your church grow in generosity and engagement.
When discipleship grows, generosity follows. See how prioritizing engagement builds lifelong givers in your church:https://t.co/4vTx3ntl6a pic.twitter.com/rEwZdW6rkT
— Online Giving (@onlinegivingorg) September 11, 2025
1. The State of Church Giving Through 2022 Might for Right – At Scale, John L. Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle, empty tomb, inc. Champaign, IL, May 2025, pp. 13, 14
2. Infinity Concepts | Grey Matter Research, The Giving Gap: Changes In Evangelical Generosity. 2024 report.
