Some also reported that charges were in place to build a sense of responsibility or an independent character among recipients. Almost half of responding congregations received all of their funds for community services from congregation members. Roughly one in three congregations reported having no formal budget in place for their community services. This does not mean that they do not spend money on services, but that they were unable to quantify the resources used. Individuals completing the questionnaire may have felt uncomfortable about reporting funds for which detailed records were not kept.
Congregations rely heavily on volunteers to run their service programs.
Almost a quarter of congregations have no paid full-time employees. Only four congregations believed that the demand for their community services would decrease. Many congregations in and around Washington, D.C., turn people away or refer them elsewhere because they do not provide the requested service or are already operating at full capacity. Nearly one-quarter of all large congregations and 30 percent of those offering seven or more programs report being at full capacity. However, compared to congregations in the District of Columbia, those in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs report less confidence that they have adequate facilities and staff to meet increased demand, but more confidence in their ability to raise additional funds.