FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO CATHOLIC PARISHES - A NATIONWIDE STUDY OF DETERMINANTS

A 1992 nationwide survey of Catholic parishes produced usable informat ion on 1682 parishes. Parish size was a strong predictor of per-househ old giving - the smaller the parish, the higher the level. Parishes wi th schools and parishes with highly-educated parishioners rs had highe r per-household contributions. Parishes with a high percentage of Hisp anic members and parishes in the East had relativity lower per-househo ld giving. Parishes with regularly-scheduled find-raisers such as bing o herd relatively low per-household giving. Level of involvement in pa rish life and a sense of ownership appear to encourage higher giving.