People just aren't giving religiously.
Fewer Americans are giving money to charity, and their relationship with God may have something to do with it.
The decline amounts to 20 million fewer households donating to charity in 2016 versus 2000, researchers said.The analysis drew on data from the Philanthropy Panel Study, a data set within the University of Michigan’s Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which tracks the same 9,000 families’ charitable giving every two years.
Giving to charity is, of course, a core belief for many of the world’s major religions. And very religious people of any faith are more likely to give to charity, one study by Baylor University researchers found. Religious organizations have traditionally gotten the lion’s share of Americans’ charitable dollars. But that’s fallen slightly recently. While religious groups still received the largest chunk of charitable dollars in 2018, at 29% of total giving, it was the first year that giving to religion fell below 30% of overall giving, according to the Giving USA annual report on philanthropy, now in its 64th year.
“This shift is due to lower-income and lower-wealth Americans experiencing the slowest economic recovery since the Great Recession, during years when the cost of other items such as food, education and healthcare have increased,” said Jane Greenfield, president of Vanguard Charitable. “This has led to a decrease in the share of income available to give to charity.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why are fewer Christmas trees growing in the US? Blame the Great RecessionThere are fewer Christmas trees being grown than 10 to 15 years ago, yet more people are buying them. A spokesman for the National Christmas Tree Association says the shortage is a result of farmers planting fewer trees during the Great Recession.
Read more »
How To Give Back This #GivingTuesdayThis GivingTuesday, donate to charities and organizations that are really making a difference.
Read more »
I’m 40. I Don’t Want to Be a Mom. Now What?It’s more complicated than simply not having kids.
Read more »
Turn Your Phone Into A Run Coach With One Of These Free AppsIt's like having a personal pacer in your pocket.
Read more »
Kim Kardashian West - Interview Magazine'When I’m out and people call North’s name, that’s when it’s weird for me. She lives such a normal life, believe it or not, at home.'
Read more »