Figure 2 presents 1968-2005 per member giving as a percentage of income for the composite denominations. Total Contributions, Congregational Finances and Benevolences all declined during this 38-year period as a percent of income. Total Contributions, decreased from 3.11% in 1968 to 2.58% in 2005, a decline of 17% from the 1968 base. Congregational Finances declined from 2.45% in 1968 to 2.20% in 2005, a percent change of 10% from the 1968 base in giving as a percentage of income. However, giving as a portion of income to Congregational Finances in 2005 was in line with mid-1970s levels. Benevolences declined from 0.66% of income in 1968 to 0.39% in 2005, a decline of 41% as a portion of income. The level of 0.38% of income in 2003 and 2004 was the lowest level in the 1968 through 2005 period.

However, during the same 37-year interval, U.S. population increased from 200,745,000 to 296,852,000, an increase of 48%. Therefore, while this church member grouping represented 14.1% of the U.S. population in 1968, it included 10.2% in 2005, a decline of 27% from the 1968 base.