Figure 2 presents 1968-2006 per member giving as a percentage of income for the composite denominations. Total Contributions, Congregational Finances and Benevolences all declined during this 39-year period as a percent of income. Total Contributions, decreased from 3.11% in 1968 to 2.55% in 2006, a decline of 18% from the 1968 base. Congregational Finances declined from 2.45% in 1968 to 2.17% in 2006, a percent change of 11% from the 1968 base in giving as a percentage of income. However, giving as a portion of income to Congregational Finances in 2006 was in line with mid-1970s levels. Benevolences declined from 0.66% of income in 1968 to 0.37% in 2006, a decline of 43% as a portion of income. The level of 0.37% of income in 2006 was the lowest level in the 1968 through 2006 period.

However, during the same 38-year interval, U.S. population increased from 200,745,000 to 299,199,000, an increase of 49%. Therefore, while this church member grouping represented 14.1% of the U.S. population in 1968, it included 10.1% in 2006, a decline of 28% from the 1968 base.