Donations to 'religion' declined $2 billion in 2018 after years of growth: study

Giving to houses of worship, denominational bodies and religious television and radio declined in 2018 after years of growth as individual Americans donated about $2 billion less than they did in 2017 under a new federal tax code, according to a new study.

The Giving USA Foundation, an arm of the Giving Institute, released its 2019 annual report on philanthropy in the U.S. conducted by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy on Tuesday.

The study is the longest-running and most comprehensive report on charitable giving in the United States.

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When adjusted for inflation, the study indicates that giving to religion dropped 3.9 percent in 2018. Leading up to 2018, giving to religion saw a steady growth of 2 percent or more in each of the last seven years.

The findings come as some have voiced concern that the Trump tax cuts, or Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, would lead to a reduction in the number of people making charitable donations due to the doubling of the standard deduction.

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“Studies have shown that church attendance is down, especially among mainline denominations,” he added. “I think it is reasonable to say that there is at least a correlation that the reduced church attendance would have on giving to religion.”

While giving to things like religion, education and public society benefit organizations decreased in 2018, giving to international affairs organizations increased by 9.6 percent and giving for the environment and animal organizations increased by 3.6 percent.