What's the pandemic's FINANCIAL impact on churches and Christ-centered nonprofits?

SUMMARY: “Optimism Outweighs Uncertainty” reports on optimism levels, online giving, plans to retain staff, expense trimming, PPP, & more

Minutes ago, ECFA released some important research that you might find helpful. Titled “Optimism Outweighs Uncertainty,” it explores the pandemic’s financial impact on evangelical nonprofits and churches that undergird our society – soup kitchens, mentoring programs, international relief, and more, all providing hope in the name of Jesus, especially now.

The insights come from a cross section of the churches and Christ-centered ministries served by ECFA (the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a 41-year-old accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust). ECFA members have a combined annual income of $29 billion. In many ways its membership represents a proxy for the evangelical branch of American Christianity.

The findings are fresh – we closed the survey just last week, drawing 1,341 responses. Among our news:

? Churches are decidedly optimistic about donations/giving in the next few months, even more so than are Christ-centered nonprofits (page 3)

? The smaller the nonprofit, the less optimistic it is about donations/giving in the next few months (page 4), especially if it wasn’t growing before the pandemic (page 5).

? Online giving grew dramatically for churches between January and April, while it remained largely the same for nonprofits (page 6).

? Almost 3 in 4 churches report that April 2020 cash giving was the same or higher as January 2020 (page 7).

? The majority of both nonprofits and churches have kept staffing about the same through May, and plan to do so for the next 3 months (see page 11).

To get a copy: The 12-page illustrated report (plus a few more pages of notes and other information) is available for free download at ecfa.org/surveys and ecfa.church/surveys.