In recent years, there has been a notable shift in religious affiliation in the United States. Since 2007, the percentage of people who pray daily has decreased, and the number of unaffiliated individuals has risen to 29%. However, this trend does not fully capture the enduring significance of faith in American public life, which remains much more prominent than in Western Europe, despite shared religious roots.
Approximately two-thirds of Americans consider religion to be somewhat or very important in their lives, a figure that stands in stark contrast to countries like Italy (56%), Spain (40%), and Germany (36%). Moreover, while about two-thirds of American Christians engage in daily prayer, only 18% of European Christians do so. This disparity raises intriguing questions about the unique role of religion in the United States.
The role of disestablishment in fostering religious growth
One key factor contributing to the enduring influence of religion in the United States is the principle of disestablishment which separates church and state. This tradition has allowed faith to thrive in ways that state-sponsored churches in Europe have not. As my research into the history of philanthropy reveals, disestablishment was not only a cornerstone of American democracy but also a catalyst for the remarkable growth of philanthropy, which played a crucial role in fueling the expansion and innovation of American churches.
Prior to the American Revolution, most colonies supported specific churches through taxation. For instance, New England governments tended to back Congregationalist churches, which emerged from Puritan traditions, while many Southern colonies supported the Church of England. However, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibited the government from establishing a state religion. Although the Supreme Court did not apply this amendment to state governments until the 20th century, states’ support for established churches had largely disappeared by the early 1800s. Massachusetts was the last to disestablish, ending support for Congregational churches in 1833.
The rise of voluntary contributions and donor networks
With the removal of state funding, churches had to seek new revenue sources. Ministers’ and teachers’ salaries, church buildings, and religious institutions required financial support, which now had to come from voluntary contributions from members. This shift transformed ministers into fundraisers and believers into donors, creating a dynamic where members became stakeholders in their denominations. In the 21st century, these networks of donors and services have encompassed a wide range of initiatives, from schools and radio stations to children’s activities.
Religious colleges serve as a prime example of this phenomenon. On the eve of the Civil War, the country had 207 religious colleges, accounting for nearly 60% of all colleges and universities. Most of these institutions were founded after independence and were affiliated with various denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Catholic, and Episcopalian churches. These colleges played a central role in the religious life of many churches, training ministers and teachers for the denominations that funded them.
The Presbyterian Church’s educational initiatives
The Presbyterian Church, for example, not only established universities such as Austin College in Texas and Lafayette College in Pennsylvania but also founded 59 academies in 20 states and numerous primary schools. These educational institutions admitted and trained Presbyterians who, as adults, became the rank and file of their congregations and, as alumni, donated to their alma maters. This cycle of education and philanthropy helped maintain and grow the membership of the denominations they served.
Innovative fundraising strategies for religious colleges
Building and maintaining colleges is an expensive endeavor. In the 19th century, many American colleges struggled to rely solely on student tuition, as many students were too poor to pay the full cost of attendance. In 1806, only six out of the 39 graduating students at Dartmouth College had paid their fees in full. This lack of funding pushed many colleges into bankruptcy and closure. In fact, 68 of the 109 Presbyterian colleges established between 1794 and 1904 had shut down by 1940.
To address these financial challenges, colleges developed innovative fundraising strategies. One such method involved offering donors scholarship certificates which were essentially tuition waivers that could be used by family and friends. These certificates came with price tags ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. This approach mobilized believers who wanted to support their denomination and helped sustain the financial health of religious institutions.
The fundraising campaign to create Southern Methodist University in Dallas in the early 1900s is a notable example. This campaign involved more than 29,000 donors from across Texas. The university’s first bursar acknowledged that the institution had largely been built by poor people who had submitted small donations. Southern Methodist University committed itself to admitting 50 students each year, free of charge, who would be nominated by the church’s 50 presiding elders in Texas. Through these efforts, colleges became instrumental in maintaining and growing the memberships of the denominations they served and played a vital role in upholding the religious diversity of American society.
