100% CONFIDENTIAL State of the Plate Generosity Research: $125+ in eGIFTS for Participants

This survey is 100% CONFIDENTIAL. When you complete this survey you will be given access to FREE eGIFTS for yourself and your church to show our appreciation for your participation ($125+ value) - including the results of this survey after the results are compiled.

This year's survey has a few church financial questions, but it primarily focuses on personal financial, giving, and Christian practices that impacts generosity.

Your confidential help in this year's research will allow us to provide unprecedented and valuable insights into the lives and practices of thousands of generous and dedicated Christians.

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* 1. What is your age?

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* 2. Where do you live?

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

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* 4. What has happened to your OVERALL HOUSEHOLD INCOME in the past 12 months compared to the year before?

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* 5. (Leave blank, if you would prefer not to answer) What is the approximate range of your annual HOUSEHOLD income?

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* 6. When you think about the people you know in your local church, please check any of the following financial problems you know church families have experienced in the last 12 months...

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* 7. Which of the following items are part of your current debts (check all that apply)?

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* 8. How much money do you estimate it would take for you to be able to pay off ALL your debts checked in the previous question (but NOT including or counting a house mortgage)?

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* 9. National research indicates that most people give 2-3% of their household income to charitable and religious organizations and causes. What do you estimate is the % of income you give annually?

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* 10. If you actively give 10% or more of your income to the Lord's work, how old were you when you FIRST started this practice? If you do NOT give 10% or more, please skip to question #13.

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* 11. If you actively give 10% OR MORE to the Lord's work (church and beyond), which "INCOME AMOUNT" do you use to help you calculate the total amount you will give? If you do NOT give 10% or more, please skip to question #12.

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* 12. If you do NOT actively give 10% or more, what are some of the main reasons for your decision (check all that apply)?

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* 13. Which of the following people, authors, or ministries have influenced your BIBLICAL understanding of how to manage your personal finances and giving (click ALL that apply)?

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* 14. In the last 12 months, how often have you financially supported any of the following?

  Not at all 1-4 times per month Several times per year One-time gifts
Church general offerings
Church building projects
Church missions giving/projects
Church benevolence offerings (for the needy)
Special gift for Pastor(s)/Staff

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* 15. Beyond your giving to your local church, where are other places or people you've given money to the past 12 months?

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* 16. Beyond giving at your local church, how many other charities/nonprofits/ministries/missionaries (outside of your church) do you estimate you gave charitable donations to in the past 12 months?

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* 17. When you consider the total amount of financial donations you gave in the last 12 months, which of the following statements is true when you compare all the monies you gave to your church (e.g. general and designated gifts) VS. giving outside of your church (e.g. ministries, missionaries, organizations, etc.)?

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* 18. Which of the following ways do you use to give financially to the Lord's work (check ALL that apply)?

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* 19. Once you make a decision to give, who actually makes/completes your church and charitable donations/transactions (i.e. "who" writes the check, gives the cash, goes online, etc.) the majority of the time? If you are a single adult, please choose the first or second option recognizing you make the decision and donation 100% of the time.

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

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* 21. What would you estimate is the current value of your personal estate/wealth/assets (i.e. home/s, vehicles, possessions, life insurance, investments, property, business interests) MINUS any debts/loans/liabilities? NOTE: Leave blank if you don't know or would prefer not to answer.

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* 22. If you have a will or estate plan, indicate which of the following Christian or charitable groups will receive something from your estate upon your death. (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 Will/Estate plans

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* 23. How frequently do you attend church?

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* 24. Check any of the following you participate in or volunteer for at your church?

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* 25. Some people attribute regular Bible reading/devotions as an encouragement to wise financial decision making and generous giving. In the past 12 months, how often do you estimate you did Bible reading/devotions at home?

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* 26. If you know, which of the following BEST REPRESENTS your church's theological leaning or affiliation. Choose one OR leave blank.

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* 27. If you know, what is the average attendance at your church's weekend worship service/s (adults and children)? Choose one OR leave blank.

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* 28. CHURCH QUESTION: If you know, what happened to giving to your church’s general fund in 2012 (or your last fiscal year) compared to 2011? (Note: If you do not know, please go Question #31)

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* 29. CHURCH QUESTION: If you know, how much do you estimate general giving to your church (not designated giving) went up or down in 2012 (or for your last fiscal year) compared to 2011? (Note: If you do not know, please go Question #31)

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* 30. CHURCH QUESTION ON RESERVE FUNDS (If you don't know, go to the next question). Many churches try to have available cash on hand in bank accounts, investments, and/or a line of credit to serve as an operating reserve. What do you know about your church's practices in this area?

  <1 month 1 month 2 months 3 months 4-6 months 7+ months
Our operating reserve funds amount is equivalent to "X" number of months of our operational budget

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* 31. How did you hear about this survey?

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* 32. This is a 100% CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY. Please provide the following information. We will email you the research results when they are completed.

Thank you for your valuable assistance.

Once you complete this survey and hit SUBMIT, you will be taken to a webpage so you can receive your FREE thank you gifts ($125+ value) for your valuable participation. When the surveys are fully tabulated we will send you the results.

Gratefully yours,
BRIAN KLUTH, Founder of MAXIMUMgenerosity.org and author of www.GenerousLife.org devotionals
MARIAN LIAUTAUD, Editor with Christianity Today International
DAN BUSBY, President of ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)
MARK HOLBROOK, President of the ECCU (Evangelical Christian Credit Union)
CHRIS GOULARD, Christian Stewardship Network
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