ping to #260. Do you still have the LDS charity figures you posted the other day?
Because the lds church does not make their financial statements public, one has to rely upon their other mouthpieces to glean the information. Jan. 2006 Deseret New reported “ “that since 1984, the LDS Church has donated nearly $750 million in cash and goods to people in need in more than 150 countries.” Now this adds up to a total of 1 billion over the course of 22 years - averaging about $37.5 million per year. Estimates for income for that period run between 4.5 and 6.5 billion per year. If we take the mid value - 5.5 billion/yr for 22 years = 121 billion. 750 million donated divided by 121 billion is about 0.6 percent given to poor and needy.
and what are the percentages from the Christian denominations which are doing such a great job?
The Salvation Army for 2005 approximately 83% went to direct program services (2.29 billion).
On a more direct comparison by membership size, Ostling (Mormon America http://www.amazon.com/Mormon-America-Promise-Richard-Ostling/dp/0060663723) compared the LDS to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). They had a similar number of reported members in 1997. Conclusion: In 1997 the ELCA raised 15.44 Million in cash donations for charity. In the 14 year period from 1984-1997 the LDS Church reported cash donations for non-Mormon charity at $30.7 Million, or an average of 2.19 Million per year. This translates to ELCA donating a little over 10% of its holdings in 1997 and the Mormon Church donating approximately .2% (point 2 percent).