We're now several months into the economic downturn. As we were going into it, I said I thought that giving would take a big hit and churches, charities, and other non-profits would fall on hard times in the following months. If my mail is any indication of what's going on, this is certainly the case (we've received several appeals that funds have dropped off dramatically.)
So here's my question for today:
Is your giving up, down, or about the same as it was at this time last year?
Ours is about the same, though we're giving more of it to help the poor and needy in these tough times. It's a pretty desperate situation when people need to eat and this economy has many, especially in Michigan, looking for a source of their next meal. Of course, this is always an issue, even in the U.S., but it seems to me that it's aggravated now and therefore we've shifted our giving to help out.
How about you? What's going on with your giving these days?
Mine is down somewhat. We live off one income and save and give with the other. One income disappeared all together for a while, so giving went down. We have a second income again, but it isn't as high as it was, so giving is still down from where it was a year ago (about $200/month a year ago vs $100/month now0
Posted by: AdamCO | June 04, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Way UP compared to last year.
Posted by: VK | June 04, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Our giving is way up, because we weren't giving to our church this time last year.
Our church has seen a growth in giving this year, but I don't know if it is an increase per unit or just more people.
Posted by: DanielE | June 04, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Our percentage is about the same but the amount changed.
Posted by: wsbsteven | June 04, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Ours is up because I just got a raise, but Houston (where we live) hasn't been too impacted by this economic downturn.
Posted by: Carrie | June 04, 2009 at 12:25 PM
My giving is down. The economic downturn was shocking and made me realize I should really beef up my emergency fund in case I lose my job, especially since I have 2 young children and I'm a single parent. You really have to take care of you and yours first, you know.
Posted by: MC | June 04, 2009 at 12:34 PM
We increased ours to just over 20% last September and has stayed at 20% since then. The actual amount has gone a little down since September though as the economy took a toll on the company I work for.
Posted by: Wise Money Matters | June 04, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Mine is up slightly, I think. I've been more committed to giving to my church, and my giving to other charities has remained the same. Overall, it sounds like my church and denomination have taken a hit.
Posted by: Kate | June 04, 2009 at 12:46 PM
My giving is up slightly. I am giving the same amount to the charities I have always given to but I have added a couple of new charities too.
Posted by: Pat | June 04, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I base my giving on a percentage of my income. While the dollar amount is down the percentage is the same.
Posted by: John @ Hard Work Blogging | June 04, 2009 at 12:54 PM
The percentage amount of our giving is the same but the dollar amount has increased.
Posted by: savvy | June 04, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Our giving is usually at the end of the year. The amount I give has been trending upwards along with my income.
Posted by: Jim | June 04, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Mine is up slightly.
Posted by: Paul | June 04, 2009 at 01:28 PM
My giving is a percentage of my salary so, luckily, it is up.
Posted by: tom | June 04, 2009 at 01:56 PM
Given the forced extraction of expected higher taxes (non-voluntary charitable contributions) we have been ramping down our charitable donations to all recipients.
Posted by: Wapner PC | June 04, 2009 at 03:18 PM
We tithe to our church, and the percentage has remained the same. Our commission-based income has plummeted, so the actual dollar amount is down. We are also doing somewhat less for other charities - maybe 75% percent of last year's amount.
Posted by: Carol | June 04, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Our giving is down significantly because I left my job at the end of January. We still tithe off my wife's income, though, and will tithe off mine when I have one again.
Posted by: Eric | June 04, 2009 at 04:26 PM
We are giving the same percentage. We both graduated from college and landed some good jobs, so dollar amount is up considerably.
Posted by: Brett | June 04, 2009 at 05:43 PM
My giving is about the same, probably up a bit because we have taken to a cause above and beyond our tithes and offerings to the church.
I can also address giving in my church as the church's business administrator. Our giving dropped during the last 4-5 months of 2008 but starting in January, 2009, the income started to slowly increase. We were "living" Sunday offering to Sunday offering but we now have been able to pay our bills with money to spare. As a result, we are leaner and meaner (so to speak) as a church.
Posted by: Bob's Occasional Musings | June 04, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Up. We're having a decent year so I upped what I give to the main organization I like, and I made automatic some donations that have been more casual in previous years.
I also had a volunteer application turned down recently because the place had a large increase in applications over the last while, which I thought was interesting.
Posted by: guinness416 | June 04, 2009 at 08:43 PM
Mine is down, but has nothing to do with the economy (so far). My wife and I decided to cut back on giving until our debt is paid off. We still each have 1 charity we give too, in addition to tithe. We're giving about the same to family (but it wasn't much to begin with - e.g. $10-15 for a birthday gift).
Posted by: Benjamin Bryan | June 05, 2009 at 12:49 AM
My is up since last year, now I consistently give 10% of my net.
Posted by: Gia | June 09, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Up. Increased my salary by switching jobs and consistently tithe 10% net instead of last year's hit-and-miss.
Posted by: Trevor | June 09, 2009 at 03:22 PM