Giving USA, the most comprehensive report on philanthropy in America has just released their 2016 annual report. Giving in America continues to grow and has reached record highs for the second year in a row with an estimated $373.25 billion in 2015. Estimates for religious giving indicate that religious giving continues to grow as well – up 2.7% this past year and accounting for $119.30 billion. As one of nine charitable subsectors measured by Giving USA religious giving continues to make up the largest percentage of the philanthropic pie again at 32% of the total.

Giving to religion marked its fifth consecutive year of growth in 2015. Small but steady growth, however, means that the religious giving sector continues to lose ground as a share of total giving. In contrast to religious giving’s 2.7% growth, total giving grew 4.1% this past year. Keeping in mind that Giving USA measures religious giving narrowly focusing on congregations, denominations, missionary bodies, and religious media, what do we make of these trends for faith-based nonprofits and religious congregations.

To see more of the major findings of the Giving USA report, click here.