Below Are the Latest Research and Statistics on Charitable Giving

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PHILANTHROPY IN AMERICA

Below are the latest research and statistics on charitable giving in the United States, taken from the National Philanthropic Trust website, http://www.nptrust.org.

Charitable Giving Facts

 89 percent of households give.1  The average annual contribution for contributors is $1,620.1  According to Giving USA, American giving reach a record high in 2006, with donations totaling $295-billion, an increase of 1 percent after inflation.2,9  Giving to the arts and education saw donations rise more than 6 percent in 2006.2,9  Thanks in part to the overwhelming philanthropic outpouring to natural disasters in 2005, giving to health and social services decreased by 5.4 and 12 percent respectively in 2006.2,9  Historically, charitable giving rises about one-third as fast as the stock market and 2006 was right on target.2  Charitable giving accounted for 2.1% of gross domestic product.2  It is estimated that between $6.6 trillion to $27.4 trillion in charitable bequests will be made between 1998-2052.3  It is estimated total charitable contributions will total between $21.2 to $55.4 trillion in between 1998-2052.3  By the year 2055, some $41 trillion will change hands as Americans pass on their accumulated assets to the next generation.3  86 percent of wealthy donors said they are most motivated to give by the notion of "meeting critical needs" and 83 percent said "giving back to society" is motivational.13  80 percent of wealthy donors surveyed said they are most likely to make contributions to educational organizations, with religious (72%) and health organizations (70%) following in popularity.13  Corporate foundations gave $4.2 billion in 2006 and 57% expect to give more in 2007.14  Corporate giving, including grants from corporate foundations, increased substantially by 18.5 percent, to $13.8 billion.9  Giving by the nation's 2,600 grant making corporate foundations grew an estimated 6 percent in 2006 to a record 4.2 billion.14  57 percent of corporate foundations expect to increase their giving in 2007.14  Electronic gifts to the 187 organizations that provided figures for 2005 and 2006 grew by 37 percent, from $880.7 million to $1.2 billion, and eighty-five of those groups saw online gifts grow by more than 50 percent.9  In 2006, 83 percent of total contributions came from donations from individuals, including bequests.2

Charitable Organization Facts

 There are approximately 1,010,400 charitable organizations in the United States.4  There are approximately 355,000 religious congregations.4  The largest sources of nonprofits revenue and support are comprised of: Dues, fees and charges (37.5%); Government Support (31.3%); Private Contributions (19.9%); and Miscellaneous revenue (11.4%).4  The nonprofit sector employs 10.2 million people, accounting for 6.9% of the total U.S workforce.5  7 percent of Americans are paid employees of non-profit organizations.9  The number of U.S. non-profits has doubled in the past five years.10  The number of family foundations has increased 60% in the past six years.10  32 percent of charities surveyed reported a decrease in contributions in 2006. Nine percent reported no change, and 59 percent reported an increase in contributions from the previous year.2

Individual Volunteering Facts

 55 percent of Americans volunteer.6  In a study sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities, 93 percent of Americans surveyed believe it is important to promote volunteerism. However, more than half (51 percent) said they'd rather read, watch TV or visit the in-laws than volunteer for charity.11  42 percent of people surveyed said personal connections inspire them to volunteer, while another 40 percent said community involvement was the driving force.11  83.9 million American adults volunteer, representing the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at a value of $239 billion.1  The estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $18.77 per hour for 2006.12

Charitable Giving Vehicle Statistics According to an analysis of the Internal Revenue Service:

 There are 93,329 Charitable Remainder Unitrusts with total assets of $77.4 billion.  There are 22,626 Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts with total assets of $9.5 billion.  There are 5,658 Charitable Lead Trusts with total assets of $12.3 billion.  There are 1,591 Pooled Income Funds with total assets of $1.7 billion.

Sources:

1. Giving & Volunteering in the United States 2001, Independent Sector 2. Giving USA 2007 3. Center on Wealth and Philanthropy 4. Internal Revenue Service 5. National Center for Charitable Statistics 6. The Nonprofit Almanac In Brief, Independent Sector 7. National Philanthropic Trust - Donor Advised Fund Market Report 2007 8. Congressional Research Service 9. The Chronicle of Philanthropy 10. The Christian Science Monitor 11. Association of Fundraising Professionals 12. Independent Sector 13. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University 14. The Foundation Center

"To give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man's power nor an easy matter."

-Aristotle