Charitable giving to religious organizations up slightly: Is it enough?

According to the faith-based financial accountability firm, when adjusted for inflation, cash gifts to ECFA members with fiscal years ending Dec. 31 were $5.3 billion last year, compared with $5.1 billion for the previous year.

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From Madame Noire:

One sure sign the economy is improving is the amount of charitable giving Americans do. And last year, charitable giving to large Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability-accredited nonprofits and churches increased a modest 2.4 percent last year. In 2011, there was a 1.4 percent decrease.

According to the faith-based financial accountability firm, when adjusted for inflation, cash gifts to ECFA members with fiscal years ending Dec. 31 were $5.3 billion last year, compared with $5.1 billion for the previous year.

But according to Dan Busby, ECFA president, this increase just isn’t enough and he’s calling for the government to step in. “Religious nonprofits are still fighting to regain their pre-2008 giving levels. When comparing pre-recession to current-giving data, giving to ECFA members is up a scant .4 percent over the six-year period,” said Busby in a press statement.  “It underscores that this is a time for Congress to maintain, and even increase, charitable giving incentives for charities.”

The ECFA findings are part one of its fourth annual State of Giving Report. In August, the second segment of the 2013 report will be issued; the final data to be released in November.

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