As the memo on tax reform to Rep. Camp from the Faith & Giving Coalition points out, even such a respected report on charitable giving as Giving USA 2013 misrepresents the importance of faith-based charities. That report says that in 2012, 32% of private giving went to religious organizations–but the report does not categorize as “religious” the many faith-based organizations that provide health care, education, social services, or services overseas! Instead, those organizations are counted simply as (non-religious) schools, etc. Only houses of worship, seminaries, and the like are counted as “religious organizations.”

That’s a big mistake. Religion encompasses not only churches and worship but also faith-based schools, religious drug-treatment programs, overseas development efforts inspired and shaped by faith, and so much more.

In fact, as revealed by a new report on giving that is specifically attentive to donations made to health, educational, and other organizations that are inspired and shaped by religion, a full 73% of giving in the US goes to religious organizations–not 32%. According to Connected to Give: Faith Communities (Jumpstart Labs, 2014), 41% of American giving goes to congregations and another 32% to “religiously identified organizations.” That’s a huge difference from the Giving USA numbers, and a huge difference in understanding the role of religion in our common life.