Giving Statistics
Few people realize how large charities have become, how many vital services they provide, and how much funding flows through them each year. Without charities and non-profits, America would simply not be able to operate. Their operations are so big that during 2010, total giving was nearly $291 billion.
How big is the sector?
- Total giving to charitable organizations was $290.89 billion in 2010 (about 2% of GDP). This is an increase of 3.8% from 2009 when giving was $280.3 billion.
- As in previous years, the majority of that giving came from individuals. Specifically, individuals gave $211.77 billion (73%) representing a 2.7% increase over 2009.
- Giving by bequest was $22.83 billion (up 18.8%), foundations gave $41 billion (down 0.2%), and corporations donated $15.29 billion (up 10.6%).
- 35% of all donations, or $100.63 billion, went to religious organizations (up only 0.8%). Much of these contributions can be attributed to people giving to their local place of worship. The next largest sector was education with $41.67 billion (up 5.2%).
- Donations were also up to foundations (1.9%), health charities (1.3%), public benefit charities (6.2%), arts, culture, humanities charities (5.7%). International charities saw the biggest growth in giving (15.3%), in part, because of the earthquake in Haiti (January 2010).
- Giving to several categories of charities was virtually flat in 2010 including donations to human services, environmental and animal charities.
- Revised Giving USA data shows that total giving has grown in current dollars in every year since 1954 except for 1987, 2008 and 2009.
All data property of Giving USA 2011, the Annual Report on Philanthropy, published by the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy. A more detailed synopsis of the report is accessible on Charity Navigator’s blog. Data for 2009 and 2008 can also be found on our blog.
