Religious Giving in Uncertain Times:  Outlook for 2010 A mixed picture - both resiliency and struggle - characterized the experience of the  nonprofit sector in 2009.  The December 2009 Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI), a sort of "Consumer Confidence Report" for philanthropy in America, points out that while the giving climate has improved since Summer 2009, donors and fundraisers remain wary of the economy.  (The PGI is based on a semiannual national survey of 404 nonprofit fundraising professionals and provides an overall assessment of the fundraising climate in the United States. The full report is available for purchase on the Center on Philanthropy's website.)  Recent studies, including one by the Barna Group and one released by the Lake Institute and the Alban Institute in October 2009, reveal the context behind this general unease.  The Barna study, conducted in the last quarter of 2009, found that American congregations experienced on average a 7% drop in income.  Perhaps it should not surprise us then, as you see in the charts below, that almost 67 percent of fundraising professionals think that the economy is still negatively impacting their ability to raise funds, and fundraisers generally reported less success with most fundraising techniques by the end of year than they had predicted in the summer.     However, it is important to note that, according to the most recent PGI, fundraisers from educational and religious organizations were the most optimistic about the present giving climate (see chart below).  An encouraging finding, supported by the fact that Giving USA 2009 data showed that giving to religion was the one charitable sub-sector that actually grew in 2008. Indeed, the December 2009 PGI found that religious organizations were more likely to report an increase in the number of repeat donors during the past two years (40.9%).  Tips for Prudent Financial Planning in 2010 In this still uncertain climate, the prospect of planning your 2010 budget may seem a daunting task.  However, our work with religious organizations allows us to interact with congregations of all shapes and sizes from around the United States. And as the taboo subject of "money" has increasingly become a topic of major concern, many have told us that the recession has provided them with opportunities to reassess their core missions, implement necessary changes, and learn all they can about congregational finances. Below you will find a handful of the tips that have emerged out of our conversations with congregations over the past year. Given the economic uncertainty of 2010, pursue a cash-and-carry philosophy in your budgeting and spending. If you don't have the cash, you can't afford the expenditure. Spend according to your priorities! Let your core mission values shape your expenditures.  Keep your members informed as to your financial status; fiscal transparency and administrative accountability are pivotal to the creation of a congregational culture of generosity. Good theology is the gateway to sound economics. Jesus put a priority on caring for the homeless, the poor, the jobless, the sick etc. Be a good neighbor to the hurting in your community. Don't beg for money; celebrate what you have and are doing. Dare to birth hope amidst economic sobriety by telling heart-touching stories as to the difference you are making with what you have.