SurveyMonkey Powered Online Survey

6th State of the Plate Research Project. $150+ in eGIFTS & Full Survey Results for All Participants

Your participation in this year's research will allow us to provide unprecedented and valuable insights into personal and church giving practices and trends.

Question Title

* 1. What is your age?

20s

30s

40s

50s

60 plus

Question Title

* 2. PERSONAL QUESTION: What do you think will happen to the economy AND giving to churches in 2016/2017?

The economy and giving to churches will IMPROVE in 2016/2017.

The economy and giving to churches will be FLAT in 2016/2017.

The economy and giving to churches will GO DOWN in 2016/2017.

The economy and giving to churches will have a SERIOUS CRASH in 2016/2017.

Question Title

* 3. People's giving at their church is often impacted by their attendance. It is estimated that many Christians miss 1/3rd or more of the worship services at their local home church for various reasons. In the past 12 months, what are reasons you missed attending worship services at your church? (Click all that apply)

On a trip out of town

Sports activities or games

Had to work or was busy on work related projects

Personal or family sickness

Busy with house projects or chores

Family social commitments (bday, holidays, graduations, wedding, funeral, etc.)

Visited another church in town

Watched preaching online or on TV instead

Serving during the worship service (children, youth, ushering, etc.)

Attended a SS class, but didn't go into the worship service

Church shopping for a new church to attend

Too tired or didn't feel like going

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. How many worship services do you estimate you personally attended at your local church in the past 12 months?

90% plus (attended 47 or more worship services - missed 5 or less)

60% to 89% (attended 31 to 46 worship services - missed 6 to 21)

30% to 59% (attended 16 to 30 worship services - missed 22 to 36)

Under 30% (attended 15 or fewer worship services)

Question Title

* 5. Research studies indicate most people give 2-3% of their household income to churches, charities, nonprofits, NGO's, and religious organizations. What do you estimate is the % of income you give annually?

<1%

1-3%

4-5%

6-9%

10%

11-15%

16-20%

>20%

Question Title

* 6. Over a typical month, how often do you make donations at your church?

Every week

3 times a month

2 times a month

1 time a month

Every few months

Question Title

* 7. Beyond giving to your local church, how many other organizations did you donate to in 2015 (ministries, missions, nonprofits, short-term missions trips, school, individuals in need, etc.)?

0 - All my donations only were given to my church

1 to 3 other places

4 to 9 other places

10 or more other places

Question Title

* 8. Churches today have a number of ways to encourage faithful and generous giving. Let us know giving options your church uses/encourages, which you have used, and what you'd like to see in the future. (Click ALL that apply)

	My church does this	Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Collections are taken during the worship services (plate, bag, bucket, etc.)	Collections are taken during the worship services (plate, bag, bucket, etc.) My church does this	Collections are taken during the worship services (plate, bag, bucket, etc.) Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Offering box (in the back, front, or lobby)	Offering box (in the back, front, or lobby) My church does this	Offering box (in the back, front, or lobby) Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Annual packet of church giving envelopes provided	Annual packet of church giving envelopes provided My church does this	Annual packet of church giving envelopes provided Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Giving envelopes in the pews/seat pockets	Giving envelopes in the pews/seat pockets My church does this	Giving envelopes in the pews/seat pockets Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Website Online Giving	Website Online Giving My church does this	Website Online Giving Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Bank transfer EFT Autopay Giving	Bank transfer EFT Autopay Giving My church does this	Bank transfer EFT Autopay Giving Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Cell Phone Text Giving	Cell Phone Text Giving My church does this	Cell Phone Text Giving Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Phone APP Giving	Phone APP Giving My church does this	Phone APP Giving Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Kiosk/iPad/Tablet Giving	Kiosk/iPad/Tablet Giving My church does this	Kiosk/iPad/Tablet Giving Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
"Quarterly" Giving Statements w/Return Mail-In Envelopes	"Quarterly" Giving Statements w/Return Mail-In Envelopes My church does this	"Quarterly" Giving Statements w/Return Mail-In Envelopes Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Legacy/Estate Gifts Encouraged	Legacy/Estate Gifts Encouraged My church does this	Legacy/Estate Gifts Encouraged Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Gifts in Kind Encouraged (vehicles, property, etc.)	Gifts in Kind Encouraged (vehicles, property, etc.) My church does this	Gifts in Kind Encouraged (vehicles, property, etc.) Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future
Gifts of Stock Encouraged	Gifts of Stock Encouraged My church does this	Gifts of Stock Encouraged Not offered by my church, but I think they should do this in the future

Question Title

* 9. Do you currently have a legally binding written will or estate plan?

Yes (and it is up-to-date)

Yes (BUT it needs updating)

Question Title

* 10. If you have a written will or estate plan, does it currently include gifts for the LORD's work at your church and/or other places?

Yes

Question Title

* 11. If you have a written will or estate plan that includes donations to church, charitable, or religious organizations, which of the following will receive something from your estate. (If you do NOT have a will or estate plan, go to the next question).

	Church	Denomination	Ministries	School/s	Missions	Civic	Medical	Charities & Nonprofits
INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Church	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Denomination	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Ministries	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans School/s	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Missions	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Civic	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Medical	INCLUDED in your Will/Estate plans Charities & Nonprofits

Question Title

* 12. If you know, what is the average attendance at your church's weekend worship service/s (adults and children)?

Under 100

100-249

250-499

500-999

1000-1999

2000-4999

5000-10,000

Over 10,000

Don't know

Question Title

* 13. What is your involvement at your local church (choose one)?

Church member OR attendee (but I have no leadership or volunteer role at this time)

Church volunteer

Senior/Lead/Teaching Pastor

Executive Pastor or Administrator

Associate or Assistant Pastor

Church Staff Member

Church Leader or Committee/Board Member

Finance or Stewardship Committee Member

Church Treasurer

Question Title

* 14. CHURCH QUESTION: If you know, what happened to giving to your church’s general fund in 2015 (or your last fiscal year) compared to 2014? (Note: If you do NOT know, please go Question #15 to complete the survey and get your $150+ in FREE thank you eGIFTS).

Giving in 2015 was DOWN 5% OR MORE

Giving in 2015 was FLAT/EVEN (+/- 4%)

Giving in 2015 was UP 5% OR MORE

If your giving went UP or DOWN 5% or more, "briefly" explain what you think is the primary reason(s)?

Question Title

* 15. CHURCH PASTOR OR LEADERS QUESTION: Which of the following do you feel you or your church could use to help grow givers and giving? If you don't know, go and complete Question #16 for your free eGifts.

	Really need	Would be helpful to have
Proven resources and ideas to increase regular church giving	Proven resources and ideas to increase regular church giving Really need	Proven resources and ideas to increase regular church giving Would be helpful to have
Best digital giving options available (cell, text, online, etc.)	Best digital giving options available (cell, text, online, etc.) Really need	Best digital giving options available (cell, text, online, etc.) Would be helpful to have
30 or 40 Day Generosity Bible devotional resources for every family to read	30 or 40 Day Generosity Bible devotional resources for every family to read Really need	30 or 40 Day Generosity Bible devotional resources for every family to read Would be helpful to have
Resources and ideas to encourage Legacy/Wills/Estate giving	Resources and ideas to encourage Legacy/Wills/Estate giving Really need	Resources and ideas to encourage Legacy/Wills/Estate giving Would be helpful to have
Preaching resources for quality sermons on finances/generoisty	Preaching resources for quality sermons on finances/generoisty Really need	Preaching resources for quality sermons on finances/generoisty Would be helpful to have
Finance/Stewardship Committee Training Helps (Online Videos, eBooks, etc.)	Finance/Stewardship Committee Training Helps (Online Videos, eBooks, etc.) Really need	Finance/Stewardship Committee Training Helps (Online Videos, eBooks, etc.) Would be helpful to have
Help with a future Capital campaign (building, renovations, or debt)	Help with a future Capital campaign (building, renovations, or debt) Really need	Help with a future Capital campaign (building, renovations, or debt) Would be helpful to have

Question Title

* 16. This is a 100% CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY. Please provide the following information. We will email you a link to the full Executive eReport research results when they are completed.

First Name: *

Country (if United States, type: USA. If Canada = CAN. If Australia = AUS)

Email Address: *

Thank you for your valuable assistance. Once you complete this survey and hit SUBMIT, you will immediately be taken to a page where you can scroll down and receive your $150+ in thank you eGifts for yourself and that you can share with your pastors and/or church leaders.

Feel free to pass this survey and $150+ eGift offer along to other Christians, pastors and church leaders you know.

Gratefully yours,
PASTOR BRIAN KLUTH - State of the Plate Founder & Research Director

Special thanks to our co--sponsors of this year's research: