MinistryWatch Index Flat in August

ANALYSIS—The MinistryWatch Index was essentially unchanged in August, marking the third consecutive month with no significant movement. This period of no growth follows a 1.73% drop in June — the Index’s first monthly drop in more than a year. 

The MinistryWatch Index tracks the revenue of 38 large Christian ministries representing 23 ministry segments monitored by MinistryWatch.

June’s drop was driven by a revenue decline at two significant Index components. World Vision released new financial information showing a $160 million drop in revenue from 2024 to 2025. Food for the Hungry posted new numbers showing a drop of nearly $25 million.

Before June’s decline, the Index had risen slowly but steadily since May 2025.

A recent MinistryWatch survey of ministry executives found that fundraising has replaced finding and recruiting staff as leaders’ top concern. The May 2026 survey found that 56% of ministry leaders now cite fundraising as their top concern, up from just 31% in May 2024.

Ministry leaders remain optimistic about the economy, though slightly less so than in February. Then, 66% of ministry executives said they did not expect a recession in the next year; today, only 58% say so. About 23% believe a recession is coming, up from 18% in February.

Attitudes — and giving — seem to rise and fall with the stock market. Studies by Giving USA suggest that philanthropic giving correlates closely with the performance of major stock indexes. Over the past year, the markets have sent mixed signals: The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up about 8.2% since the beginning of the year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq is up about 12%.

To read more about how we compile the MinistryWatch Index, click here.

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