Powered by a booming stock market and a strong economy, charitable giving by American individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations to U.S. charities surged to an estimated $410.02 billion in 2017, according to Giving USA 2018: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017.
Giving exceeded $400 billion in a single year for the first time, increasing 5.2 percent (3.0 percent adjusted for inflation) over the revised total of $389.64 contributed in 2016. Giving from all four sources and giving to all but one of the major types of recipient organizations grew in 2017, driven by economic conditions. Giving to eight of the nine major types of recipient organizations significantly increased in 2017. Giving to foundations experienced the largest gain of any subsector (an increase of 15.5 percent), far outpacing the growth in total giving. Arts/culture/humanities was the second-fastest growing subsector. Giving to international affairs decreased following six consecutive years of growth.
There’s a lot of data that comes with Giving USA. Check out this fantastic video overview of Giving USA 2018 from The Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation and use this great resource to strengthen your fundraising.
And be sure to see Jeffrey Byrne’s five ways nonprofits can use Giving USA to improve their fundraising here.
Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy is the seminal publication reporting on the sources and uses of charitable giving in the United States. The production and release of Giving USA is the result of the collaborative efforts of Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
