“Barring a significant event or shift, the prospects for a recovery of charitable giving during 2010 appear dim,” said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group.

Churches and non-profits should prepare for another lean year as Americans continue to grip their wallets, a researcher cautioned.

“Barring a significant event or shift, the prospects for a recovery of charitable giving during 2010 appear dim,” said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group. “Even while some financial indicators show signs of life, most Americans are very concerned about the country’s long-term economic prospects and seem to be tightening budgets and scrimping on donations.”

A new survey released Monday by the Barna Group shows that more Americans have cut back on their giving to non-profits and churches. Nearly half of all adults (48 percent) said they reduced their giving to non-profit organizations in the last three months. That marks a jump from 31 percent in November 2008, when the economy began slowing down.

Though churches were less affected, they still suffered from fewer donations.

About three in ten (29 percent) Americans, an increase from 20 percent in 2008, reduced their support to churches and congregations in recent months.

Moreover, those who cut back their support made significantly smaller contributions to the church. Nearly one-quarter of church donors reduced their giving by 20 percent or more, according to the study. In 2008, only one-tenth had made such significant cutbacks to churches.

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