We are building the world we want to inhabit — one where no one navigates financial hardship alone. At the heart of everything we do is a simple conviction: relationships are the most powerful economic force there is.
What is Relational Tithe?
Relational Tithe is grounded in the belief that God has designed an economy of abundance — one that moves through friendship, not just institutions. This isn’t charity. It isn’t philanthropy. It’s the conviction that genuine care for one another is both the means and the end.
It started with a handful of friends. In 2005, inspired by the 2002 Jubilee Celebration in New York City, Darin Petersen and Shane Claiborne began asking a simple question: what would it look like to weave giving into the fabric of everyday relationships? That question became Relational Tithe, Inc. — a home for those seeking a more adventurous, relational, and passionate expression of faith.
Over the past two decades, that small experiment has grown into a global movement. People across multiple countries have come alongside one another — not just to meet a financial need, but to know and be known by the person behind it. That quality of accompaniment — sitting with someone in their hardship, not just sending money — is what distinguishes this work and what transforms everyone involved.
In 2011, Relational Tithe launched Common Change, a platform designed to make collaborative giving practical and accessible for any group of friends, anywhere in the world. Today, through Common Change and a growing family of initiatives, anyone can step into this way of living.
Projects
CommonChange.com
Collaborative giving for groups of friends in the United States. Pool resources, meet real needs, and stay connected to the people you’re helping.
Start a group | Learn more
CommonChange.uk
The same relational giving model, rooted in communities across the United Kingdom.
Start a group | Learn more
CommonChange.co.za
Bringing the practice of collective generosity to communities across South Africa.
Start a group | Learn more
CommonGood.cc
A hub for ideas, stories, and conversations about community, generosity, and what it means to live well together. Podcast, articles, and thought leadership for the curious and committed.
Explore the collection
The Hive (cincyhive.org)
A Cincinnati-based center for contemplation, art, and action — where a deep inner life and active outer life come together.
Visit The Hive
ActsofSharing.org
A community platform built around sharing what you have — tools, time, skills, space. Less waste, more connection.
Start sharing
AbundantCommunity.com
A movement and resource platform for neighbor-led community building. The neighborhood is the unit of change.
Explore the movement
Generosity Dinners
An open invitation: gather around a table, share a meal, and talk about what it means to live generously. Simple. Replicable. Transformative.
Host a dinner | Learn more
Contact Us
484 Lake Park Ave #665 Oakland CA 94610
+1 (510) 323-2349 | Support@CommonChange.com