Take the 10% Pledge

Jesus said, ‘To whom much is given, much will be required.’ (Luke 12:48)

I Thought the 10% Pledge Was Wrong for Christians. Here’s What I Learned

    • At first, the pledge seemed unnecessary — the Bible already talks about a 10% tithe.

    • But most theologians agree that the tithe isn’t binding in the New Testament.

    • Without a clear, committed standard, our giving becomes fuzzy and optional. Like setting a weekly running goal, even if we don’t hit 100%, it gives structure to our growth.

    • Jesus said not to show off our giving (Matthew 6:3). Read more here.

    • But if we don't tell others about it, they won't hear about it or realize it's possible. Julia Wise's Giving Half article has inspired hundreds.

    • You can still take a pledge to give and do so anonymously (i.e., between you and God).

    • The Giving What We Can pledge seems focused on secular giving.

    • But you can pledge and give to whatever charity you believe does the most good. This may be a secular charity saving lives. This may also be a Christian missions charity.

    • The pledge simply helps you be intentional, not prescriptive.

    • 10% is perhaps a very small amount. Doesn't everything belong to God?

    • But 10% is a wise and stretching standard across life stages. Students or the unemployed may adjust down; wealthy professionals and empty nesters might commit to more. What matters most is not how much you give — but how much you keep.

    • One can always take a trial pledge for a fixed amount of time. One can also make a pledge to give well over 10% away.

    • Earning to Give is a strategy where Christians pursue higher-earning careers with the explicit goal of giving away a substantial portion of their income to do good.

    • You don’t need to be wealthy to make a difference — but if God has given you talents that could earn you more, you may be in a powerful position to give more.

    • A typical American earning $60,000/year and donating 10% to an effective charity like the Against Malaria Foundation could help save dozens of lives across their lifetime. Those with especially high earning potential could do much more—saving many hundreds of lives, or supporting even more ambitious goals.

Join Christians Who’ve Taken the Step

  • The Dykstra Family

    Jay and his family limited their combined income to just $50k per year, giving the rest away to effective charities.

    “The happiness of having things is truly minimal compared to the fulfillment of being who you were created to be for those in the most need who you were created to serve.”

    Read Jay's story

  • Fran Day

    Over 10 years ago, while still a student, Fran pledged to give 10% of her income to effective charities.

    “It was time to admit that I am the rich man and I have much to give away…By giving generously and thinking humbly about where we give, we rich men and women can walk back towards Jesus.”

    Read Fran's story

  • Dominic Roser

    Dominic gives at least 10% of his income to help end poverty, guided by Scripture and a commitment to effective giving.

    “I don’t care about effectiveness because I’m nerdish or academic, but because I want to show love towards the people whose access to a poverty-free life depends on me doing so.”

    Read Dominic's story

How Rich Am I?

Find out how rich you are compared to the rest of the world.

If you earn ~$60,000/year post-tax you are the top 1% globally. Source: Giving What We Can

“I do not believe we can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”

— C.S. Lewis

How It Works & FAQs

  • The 🔸10% Pledge is your commitment to donate 10% of your lifetime income to the charities that can use it to best serve others, for the good of the world and the glory of God.

    • You choose the charities and report and track your giving on your personal pledge dashboard.

    • Giving What We Can will show you your giving history, connect you with other pledgers, and report on our impact as a global community of people committed to creating a better world.

  • Yes! The Christian EA community has over 500 people across the world who have made pledges to give to effective charities, attended events, and been involved with online discussions.

    You are welcome to join our weekly online events!

  • Charities that are “effective” have demonstrated they actually work, they deliver their services extremely cheaply and efficiently, they could do more work with more funding, and they are exceptionally transparent.

  • No, a giving pledge is not a contract and is not legally binding. It is, however, a public declaration of lasting commitment. A pledge is a promise, or oath, to be made seriously and with an expectation that you will follow through.

    However, if you decide you can no longer keep your pledge, you can resign from it. Read more.

  • You can still take the Pledge! While studying or unemployed, it is within the spirit of the Pledge to give 1% of spending money instead of the income-based pledge amount.

  • If you’re not ready to commit 10%, you can try Giving What We Can’s 🔹Trial Pledge which allows you to trying giving any percentage for a custom duration (e.g., you can commit to 10% for 2 months, 20% for 5 months, or 1% for a year). You decide!

Want to chat before committing?

Not sure if the pledge is right for you? We’d love to talk it through. Ask questions, explore your options, and get honest, no-pressure guidance from JD, Director of Christians for Impact.