How much do Americans give to charity?
Charitable giving statistics have been published annually since 1955 in Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, researched and written by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and published by Giving USA Foundation.
Total charitable contributions by individuals, corporations, and foundations was an estimated $390.05 billion in 2016, up 2.7 percent 0ver 2015, according to Giving USA 2017.
See also our related Knowledge Base articles:
- How can I find out about the most generous philanthropists in the United States?
- Where can I find information on celebrity giving?
- How can I learn about researching and cultivating individual donors?
More articles about individual donors
More articles on statistics
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Ask usExplore resources curated by our staff for this topic:
Staff-recommended websites
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Center on Wealth and Philanthropy,Boston College
2009 Household Charitable Giving Down Five Percent from 2008
Press release summarizes findings based on the CWP's Individual Giving Model. The full report will be published in the July/August 2010 issue of Advancing Philanthropy, the magazine of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
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Blackbaud Index of Charitable Giving
A broad-based fundraising index that reports revenue trends of 1400 nonprofit organizations representing $2.2 billion in yearly revenue on a monthly basis. The Index is based on actual revenue statistics from nonprofit organizations of all sizes represent
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Research Projects
Center on Wealth and Philanthropy
Links to previous research projects the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy has conducted related to wealth, giving and social impact.
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Staff pick
National Philanthropic Trust
Charitable Giving Statistics
Provides summary statistics on giving by institutions and individuals and includes information on donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and other charitable entities.
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Staff pick
National Park Service
Giving Statistics
This agency within the federal Department of the Interior provides a useful roundup of charitable giving statistics and analysis of the data. The webpage includes the 2009 Giving USA pie charts/data on giving by source and by recipient type:
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IRS - SOI Tax Stats
Individual Noncash Charitable Contributions
Provides data on noncash charitable contributions over the past few years, based on tax-returns.
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IRS Tax Stats
Individual Statistical Tables
Provides tables on itemized deductions, spreadsheets which include cash and noncash contributions.
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Staff pick
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University
The mission of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University is to increase the understanding of philanthropy, improving its practice, and enhancing participation in philanthropy. The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is moving philanthropy forward in the 21st century. Its cutting-edge programs and initiatives provide nonprofits, donors and scholars with the resources they need to make a difference.