While charitable giving in the U.S. reached nearly half a trillion dollars in 2022, a closer look at the numbers reveals a fascinating story of resilience, shifting priorities, and the enduring power of individual generosity that is redefining philanthropy for a new era.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, total charitable giving in the United States amounted to $499.33 billion, representing a 3.4% decline from 2021 when adjusted for inflation.
- Adjusted for inflation, U.S. charitable giving grew by an average annual rate of 3.0% from 1960 to 2022.
- In 2021, U.S. total giving reached $484.87 billion, a 2.5% increase nominally but 0.0% when adjusted for inflation.
- 81 million U.S. households donated to charity in 2021, 51% participation rate.
- Average household charitable gift was $4,942 in 2021.
- Households earning under $50K gave 5.5% of income on average in 2021.
- Corporate giving in U.S. totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% nominally.
- Corporations represented 6% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
- Corporate foundation giving was $23.85 billion in 2022.
- Foundation giving in U.S. reached $103.53 billion in 2022, up 6.9%.
- Foundations accounted for 21% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
- Number of U.S. foundations grew to 105,000 by 2022.
- 56% of U.S. adults donated in 2023, with Boomers at 60% participation.
- Gen Z donation rate reached 41% in 2023, up from 31% in 2021.
- Women comprised 52% of donors but gave 1.5x more to women's causes.
Despite inflation, American charitable giving remains resilient over long-term trends.
Corporate Philanthropy
- Corporate giving in U.S. totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% nominally.
- Corporations represented 6% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
- Corporate foundation giving was $23.85 billion in 2022.
- 78% of companies increased giving budget post-COVID.
- Average corporate giving rate was 1.25% of pre-tax profits in 2022.
- Tech sector led corporate giving with $9.1 billion in 2022.
- 95% of Fortune 500 companies have corporate foundations.
- Employee giving programs matched $2.5 billion in 2022.
- Corporate giving to education was 32% of total corp gifts in 2022.
- 65% of companies prioritize DEI in giving strategies.
- Global corporate philanthropy reached $20 billion annually pre-2020.
- Walmart topped corporate givers with $1.45 billion in 2022.
- 56% of corporate giving via product donations in 2022.
- Corporate support for Ukraine relief hit $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Energy sector giving declined 5% in 2022 amid profits.
- 82% of execs tie giving to ESG goals.
- Corporate volunteerism averaged 24 hours per employee yearly.
- Pharma industry gave $1.8 billion to health causes in 2022.
- 40% of corporate gifts through DAFs in 2022.
- Finance sector contributed $4.2 billion in 2022.
Corporate Philanthropy Interpretation
Corporate America's generosity may be growing, but with its giving rate at a modest 1.25% of profits, the corporate heart often seems to be on a carefully budgeted, PR-friendly sleeve.
Demographic Insights
- 56% of U.S. adults donated in 2023, with Boomers at 60% participation.
- Gen Z donation rate reached 41% in 2023, up from 31% in 2021.
- Women comprised 52% of donors but gave 1.5x more to women's causes.
- Black Americans gave 25% more of income than average despite lower wealth.
- Households earning <$25K had 61% donor participation rate.
- 68% of high-income ($200K+) individuals donated in 2022.
- Rural donors gave 6.2% more frequently than urban.
- LGBTQ+ individuals donated at 55% rate, focusing on equality.
- Married couples gave 15% more than singles.
- Parents with children under 18 donated 10% higher amounts.
- Hispanic donor participation at 49%, giving to education heavily.
- Retirees over 65 gave 12% of income on average.
- 45% of non-religious individuals still donated to secular causes.
- Veterans donated 2x more to military causes.
- College-educated donors gave 9% more than non-grads.
- Single women headed households gave 8% above average.
- Asian Americans had 58% donor rate, highest among ethnic groups.
- Low-income urban donors prioritized human services 35% more.
- Baby Boomers controlled 50% of itemized deductions.
- Millennials (under 40) made 40% of online donations.
Demographic Insights Interpretation
The data reveals that generosity is a deeply democratic spirit, showing up not just in the wallets of the wealthy but flourishing with remarkable resilience among the young, the struggling, and communities historically overlooked, proving that the heart of giving often beats strongest where you might least expect it.
Foundation Grants
- Foundation giving in U.S. reached $103.53 billion in 2022, up 6.9%.
- Foundations accounted for 21% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
- Number of U.S. foundations grew to 105,000 by 2022.
- Community foundations granted $9.4 billion in 2022.
- Independent foundations gave $63.5 billion in 2021.
- Top 1% of foundations gave 50% of all grants.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation granted $5.7 billion in 2022.
- Corporate foundations disbursed 4.8% of assets on average.
- Family foundations number 40,000+ with $200B assets.
- Grantmaking rose 7.5% inflation-adjusted in 2021.
- Health received 23% of foundation dollars in 2021.
- Education got 20% of foundation grants.
- Average foundation grant size was $207,000 in 2021.
- 90% of foundations have endowments under $50M.
- MacArthur Foundation gave $1.1 billion over 5 years.
- Payout rates averaged 5.2% for private foundations.
- New foundations launched at rate of 2,500/year.
- International grants from U.S. foundations: $10B in 2021.
- Ford Foundation granted $1 billion in 2022.
- 15% increase in foundation giving to equity issues post-2020.
Foundation Grants Interpretation
Amidst a landscape where a tiny elite of foundations control half the giving, the overall surge in charitable grants suggests a growing fortress of private capital attempting to address public needs, for better or worse.
Individual Contributions
- 81 million U.S. households donated to charity in 2021, 51% participation rate.
- Average household charitable gift was $4,942 in 2021.
- Households earning under $50K gave 5.5% of income on average in 2021.
- 50% of individuals aged 30-49 donated in 2022.
- High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) gave $510 billion globally in 2022.
- 66% of U.S. adults donated to charity in 2023.
- Average online gift to charity was $128 in 2022.
- 28% of donors give monthly recurring gifts.
- Donors over 70 gave 11% more than average in 2022.
- 41% of Gen Z donated in 2023, highest among generations.
- Median gift from individuals was $250 in 2021 surveys.
- 60% of donors prefer digital giving methods in 2023.
- Households with income $100K+ gave 4.2% of income.
- 24% of individuals increased giving post-COVID in 2022.
- Ultra-wealthy gave 19.7% more in 2022 than 2021.
- 55% of millennials donate to causes they care about annually.
- Average DAF grant from individuals was $48,000 in 2022.
- 70% of individuals give to religion first.
- Young donors (18-24) gave 4.7% of income.
- 37% of donors lapsed during pandemic but 25% returned stronger.
- Women give 4% more than men on average.
- 63% of individuals plan to give same or more in 2024.
Individual Contributions Interpretation
Even as the ultra-wealthy's blockbuster grants grab headlines, the true, stubbornly beating heart of American charity lies in the everyday generosity of the majority—where a median gift of $250 and young adults giving nearly 5% of their modest incomes quietly but powerfully outweighs the mere checkbook.
Total Giving Trends
- In 2022, total charitable giving in the United States amounted to $499.33 billion, representing a 3.4% decline from 2021 when adjusted for inflation.
- Adjusted for inflation, U.S. charitable giving grew by an average annual rate of 3.0% from 1960 to 2022.
- In 2021, U.S. total giving reached $484.87 billion, a 2.5% increase nominally but 0.0% when adjusted for inflation.
- Charitable giving accounted for 2.0% of GDP in 2022, down from 2.1% in 2021.
- From 2012 to 2022, total U.S. giving increased by 23.4% nominally.
- In 2020, pandemic-related giving boosted total U.S. contributions to $471.44 billion, up 5.2% adjusted for inflation.
- U.S. giving as a share of disposable personal income was 2.1% in 2022.
- Total giving surged 10.6% in 2020, the highest annual increase since 1986.
- Post-2008 recession, giving recovered to pre-recession levels by 2016.
- In 2019, total U.S. giving hit $449.64 billion, up 4.1% adjusted for inflation.
- From 2000-2022, inflation-adjusted giving grew at 2.8% annually.
- Giving peaked at 2.2% of GDP in 2000.
- 2022 saw the first inflation-adjusted decline since 2009.
- Total giving in 2018 was $427.69 billion, up 0.7% adjusted.
- Long-term trend shows giving growing faster than inflation by 1.2% annually since 1954.
- In 2023 estimates, total giving rebounded to around $557 billion nominally.
- Giving dipped 9.1% inflation-adjusted in 2008.
- 75% of total giving comes from living individuals historically.
- In 2022, religion received 27% of total U.S. giving at $132.22 billion.
- Education subsector got 14% of giving in 2022, $69.56 billion.
- Human services captured 13% or $64.87 billion in 2022.
- Foundations contributed 21% of total giving in 2022.
- Individuals gave 74% of total in 2022 at $369.58 billion.
- Bequests made up 9% or $42.82 billion in 2022.
- Corporations gave 6% or $29.48 billion in 2022.
- In 2023 World Giving Index, U.S. ranked #7 globally with 60% helping stranger rate.
- Indonesia led world with 90% donating money in past month.
- Global charitable giving estimated at $1.2 trillion annually.
- Kenya scored highest overall in World Giving Index 2023.
- U.S. individuals gave $369.58 billion domestically in 2022.
- Europe total giving €138 billion in 2022.
Total Giving Trends Interpretation
Americans have a remarkably resilient moral muscle memory for generosity, even if it occasionally twitches with the economic flu—as seen in 2022's first real decline since the Great Recession.
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