How to Calculate Your Pledge
4 different approaches for determining your 2008 pledge
It probably doesn’t surprise you that just as there are many different reasons why we each pledge to St. Paul’s, there is similarly no single method for determining the amount of your pledge. The following are common approaches that you might consider:
• The Biblical Tithe
Pledge 10% or more of your gross annual income. Although the tithe has its roots in Jewish tradition, it is also the historical Christian standard for giving and is the official teaching of the Episcopal Church. If that is not possible right now, strive to tithe, that is, try starting with Proportional Giving and make it a goal to increase each year.
• Proportional Giving
Base your gift on your annual income using the table below. That is, start with your expected income next year and pick a percentage that feels right. Always remember to ask yourself, is the amount you are giving proportional to your love of God, to your love of St. Paul’s and reflective of your relationship. If you have used this guide before, consider increasing last year’s percentage by 1% or more as you strive to tithe.
• “The Dean’s Challenge”
If you don’t feel called to Tithe or to use Proportional Giving, then consider taking Dean Richardson up on his challenge and help St. Paul’s Cathedral maintain it’s mission and ministries next year by increasing last year’s pledge by 16.5%.
• “Radical” Giving
“Shock yourself with your generosity!” Consider a pledge that stretches your resources, demands sacrifices, or pushes beyond what is comfortable and into reassessment of your priorities and your commitments. You may find that as you re-order your finances around giving, that you find your life re-ordered around God.
Here’s a helpful chart for calculating a weekly pledge based on either monthly or annual income. Amount of your weekly pledge at…
| ANNUAL INCOME |
MONTHLY INCOME |
3% | 5% | 10% | 15% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $833 | $6 per week | $9 per week | $19 per week | $28 per week |
| $15,000 | $1,250 | $8 | $15 | $29 | $44 |
| $20,000 | $1,667 | $12 | $19 | $39 | $58 |
| $25,000 | $2,083 | $14 | $24 | $48 | $72 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 | $17 | $29 | $58 | $87 |
| $40,000 | $3,333 | $23 | $38 | $77 | $115 |
| $50,000 | $4,167 | $29 | $48 | $96 | $144 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | $35 | $58 | $115 | $173 |
| $75,000 | $6,250 | $43 | $72 | $144 | $216 |
| $100,000 | $8,333 | $58 | $96 | $192 | $288 |
| $150,000 | $12,500 | $87 | $120 | $240 | $433 |
| $200,000 | $16,667 | $115 | $192 | $385 | $577 |