Charitable Giving Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Charitable Giving Statistics

U.S. corporate giving totaled $29.48 billion in 2022 and corporations accounted for 6% of all giving, yet tech and education still pulled the biggest shares while only a minority rely on what they give most through product donations. The page also tracks how giving behavior is changing across individuals and foundations, from $103.53 billion in foundation giving in 2022 to Gen Z at 41% participation in 2023, so you can see where generosity is widening and where it is quietly tightening.

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Corporate giving in U.S. totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% nominally.

Statistic 2

Corporations represented 6% of total U.S. giving in 2022.

Statistic 3

Corporate foundation giving was $23.85 billion in 2022.

Statistic 4

78% of companies increased giving budget post-COVID.

Statistic 5

Average corporate giving rate was 1.25% of pre-tax profits in 2022.

Statistic 6

Tech sector led corporate giving with $9.1 billion in 2022.

Statistic 7

95% of Fortune 500 companies have corporate foundations.

Statistic 8

Employee giving programs matched $2.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 9

Corporate giving to education was 32% of total corp gifts in 2022.

Statistic 10

65% of companies prioritize DEI in giving strategies.

Statistic 11

Global corporate philanthropy reached $20 billion annually pre-2020.

Statistic 12

Walmart topped corporate givers with $1.45 billion in 2022.

Statistic 13

56% of corporate giving via product donations in 2022.

Statistic 14

Corporate support for Ukraine relief hit $1.2 billion in 2022.

Statistic 15

Energy sector giving declined 5% in 2022 amid profits.

Statistic 16

82% of execs tie giving to ESG goals.

Statistic 17

Corporate volunteerism averaged 24 hours per employee yearly.

Statistic 18

Pharma industry gave $1.8 billion to health causes in 2022.

Statistic 19

40% of corporate gifts through DAFs in 2022.

Statistic 20

Finance sector contributed $4.2 billion in 2022.

Statistic 21

56% of U.S. adults donated in 2023, with Boomers at 60% participation.

Statistic 22

Gen Z donation rate reached 41% in 2023, up from 31% in 2021.

Statistic 23

Women comprised 52% of donors but gave 1.5x more to women's causes.

Statistic 24

Black Americans gave 25% more of income than average despite lower wealth.

Statistic 25

Households earning <$25K had 61% donor participation rate.

Statistic 26

68% of high-income ($200K+) individuals donated in 2022.

Statistic 27

Rural donors gave 6.2% more frequently than urban.

Statistic 28

LGBTQ+ individuals donated at 55% rate, focusing on equality.

Statistic 29

Married couples gave 15% more than singles.

Statistic 30

Parents with children under 18 donated 10% higher amounts.

Statistic 31

Hispanic donor participation at 49%, giving to education heavily.

Statistic 32

Retirees over 65 gave 12% of income on average.

Statistic 33

45% of non-religious individuals still donated to secular causes.

Statistic 34

Veterans donated 2x more to military causes.

Statistic 35

College-educated donors gave 9% more than non-grads.

Statistic 36

Single women headed households gave 8% above average.

Statistic 37

Asian Americans had 58% donor rate, highest among ethnic groups.

Statistic 38

Low-income urban donors prioritized human services 35% more.

Statistic 39

Baby Boomers controlled 50% of itemized deductions.

Statistic 40

Millennials (under 40) made 40% of online donations.

Statistic 41

Foundation giving in U.S. reached $103.53 billion in 2022, up 6.9%.

Statistic 42

Foundations accounted for 21% of total U.S. giving in 2022.

Statistic 43

Number of U.S. foundations grew to 105,000 by 2022.

Statistic 44

Community foundations granted $9.4 billion in 2022.

Statistic 45

Independent foundations gave $63.5 billion in 2021.

Statistic 46

Top 1% of foundations gave 50% of all grants.

Statistic 47

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation granted $5.7 billion in 2022.

Statistic 48

Corporate foundations disbursed 4.8% of assets on average.

Statistic 49

Family foundations number 40,000+ with $200B assets.

Statistic 50

Grantmaking rose 7.5% inflation-adjusted in 2021.

Statistic 51

Health received 23% of foundation dollars in 2021.

Statistic 52

Education got 20% of foundation grants.

Statistic 53

Average foundation grant size was $207,000 in 2021.

Statistic 54

90% of foundations have endowments under $50M.

Statistic 55

MacArthur Foundation gave $1.1 billion over 5 years.

Statistic 56

Payout rates averaged 5.2% for private foundations.

Statistic 57

New foundations launched at rate of 2,500/year.

Statistic 58

International grants from U.S. foundations: $10B in 2021.

Statistic 59

Ford Foundation granted $1 billion in 2022.

Statistic 60

15% increase in foundation giving to equity issues post-2020.

Statistic 61

81 million U.S. households donated to charity in 2021, 51% participation rate.

Statistic 62

Average household charitable gift was $4,942 in 2021.

Statistic 63

Households earning under $50K gave 5.5% of income on average in 2021.

Statistic 64

50% of individuals aged 30-49 donated in 2022.

Statistic 65

High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) gave $510 billion globally in 2022.

Statistic 66

66% of U.S. adults donated to charity in 2023.

Statistic 67

Average online gift to charity was $128 in 2022.

Statistic 68

28% of donors give monthly recurring gifts.

Statistic 69

Donors over 70 gave 11% more than average in 2022.

Statistic 70

41% of Gen Z donated in 2023, highest among generations.

Statistic 71

Median gift from individuals was $250 in 2021 surveys.

Statistic 72

60% of donors prefer digital giving methods in 2023.

Statistic 73

Households with income $100K+ gave 4.2% of income.

Statistic 74

24% of individuals increased giving post-COVID in 2022.

Statistic 75

Ultra-wealthy gave 19.7% more in 2022 than 2021.

Statistic 76

55% of millennials donate to causes they care about annually.

Statistic 77

Average DAF grant from individuals was $48,000 in 2022.

Statistic 78

70% of individuals give to religion first.

Statistic 79

Young donors (18-24) gave 4.7% of income.

Statistic 80

37% of donors lapsed during pandemic but 25% returned stronger.

Statistic 81

Women give 4% more than men on average.

Statistic 82

63% of individuals plan to give same or more in 2024.

Statistic 83

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.

Statistic 84

Adjusted for inflation, U.S. charitable giving grew by an average annual rate of 3.0% from 1960 to 2022.

Statistic 85

In 2021, U.S. total giving reached $484.87 billion, a 2.5% increase nominally but 0.0% when adjusted for inflation.

Statistic 86

Charitable giving accounted for 2.0% of GDP in 2022, down from 2.1% in 2021.

Statistic 87

From 2012 to 2022, total U.S. giving increased by 23.4% nominally.

Statistic 88

In 2020, pandemic-related giving boosted total U.S. contributions to $471.44 billion, up 5.2% adjusted for inflation.

Statistic 89

U.S. giving as a share of disposable personal income was 2.1% in 2022.

Statistic 90

Total giving surged 10.6% in 2020, the highest annual increase since 1986.

Statistic 91

Post-2008 recession, giving recovered to pre-recession levels by 2016.

Statistic 92

In 2019, total U.S. giving hit $449.64 billion, up 4.1% adjusted for inflation.

Statistic 93

From 2000-2022, inflation-adjusted giving grew at 2.8% annually.

Statistic 94

Giving peaked at 2.2% of GDP in 2000.

Statistic 95

2022 saw the first inflation-adjusted decline since 2009.

Statistic 96

Total giving in 2018 was $427.69 billion, up 0.7% adjusted.

Statistic 97

Long-term trend shows giving growing faster than inflation by 1.2% annually since 1954.

Statistic 98

In 2023 estimates, total giving rebounded to around $557 billion nominally.

Statistic 99

Giving dipped 9.1% inflation-adjusted in 2008.

Statistic 100

75% of total giving comes from living individuals historically.

Statistic 101

In 2022, religion received 27% of total U.S. giving at $132.22 billion.

Statistic 102

Education subsector got 14% of giving in 2022, $69.56 billion.

Statistic 103

Human services captured 13% or $64.87 billion in 2022.

Statistic 104

Foundations contributed 21% of total giving in 2022.

Statistic 105

Individuals gave 74% of total in 2022 at $369.58 billion.

Statistic 106

Bequests made up 9% or $42.82 billion in 2022.

Statistic 107

Corporations gave 6% or $29.48 billion in 2022.

Statistic 108

In 2023 World Giving Index, U.S. ranked #7 globally with 60% helping stranger rate.

Statistic 109

Indonesia led world with 90% donating money in past month.

Statistic 110

Global charitable giving estimated at $1.2 trillion annually.

Statistic 111

Kenya scored highest overall in World Giving Index 2023.

Statistic 112

U.S. individuals gave $369.58 billion domestically in 2022.

Statistic 113

Europe total giving €138 billion in 2022.

Sources
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David Kowalski

Written by David Kowalski·Edited by Henrik Dahl·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 14, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Charitable giving in the United States totaled $557 billion in 2023, a sharp rebound from the inflation adjusted dip the country saw just before. Even with that surge, the mix is shifting in surprising ways, like education receiving 32% of corporate gifts and 40% routed through donor advised funds. Let’s look at what drives those decisions across companies, foundations, and everyday households.

Key Takeaways

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Corporate giving totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, driving education and ESG as company budgets largely rose.

Corporate Philanthropy

1Corporate giving in U.S. totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% nominally.
Verified
2Corporations represented 6% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
Verified
3Corporate foundation giving was $23.85 billion in 2022.
Verified
478% of companies increased giving budget post-COVID.
Verified
5Average corporate giving rate was 1.25% of pre-tax profits in 2022.
Verified
6Tech sector led corporate giving with $9.1 billion in 2022.
Verified
795% of Fortune 500 companies have corporate foundations.
Verified
8Employee giving programs matched $2.5 billion in 2022.
Verified
9Corporate giving to education was 32% of total corp gifts in 2022.
Directional
1065% of companies prioritize DEI in giving strategies.
Verified
11Global corporate philanthropy reached $20 billion annually pre-2020.
Verified
12Walmart topped corporate givers with $1.45 billion in 2022.
Verified
1356% of corporate giving via product donations in 2022.
Verified
14Corporate support for Ukraine relief hit $1.2 billion in 2022.
Verified
15Energy sector giving declined 5% in 2022 amid profits.
Verified
1682% of execs tie giving to ESG goals.
Verified
17Corporate volunteerism averaged 24 hours per employee yearly.
Directional
18Pharma industry gave $1.8 billion to health causes in 2022.
Verified
1940% of corporate gifts through DAFs in 2022.
Verified
20Finance sector contributed $4.2 billion in 2022.
Directional

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

156% of U.S. adults donated in 2023, with Boomers at 60% participation.
Verified
2Gen Z donation rate reached 41% in 2023, up from 31% in 2021.
Verified
3Women comprised 52% of donors but gave 1.5x more to women's causes.
Verified
4Black Americans gave 25% more of income than average despite lower wealth.
Verified
5Households earning <$25K had 61% donor participation rate.
Verified
668% of high-income ($200K+) individuals donated in 2022.
Verified
7Rural donors gave 6.2% more frequently than urban.
Single source
8LGBTQ+ individuals donated at 55% rate, focusing on equality.
Verified
9Married couples gave 15% more than singles.
Single source
10Parents with children under 18 donated 10% higher amounts.
Verified
11Hispanic donor participation at 49%, giving to education heavily.
Verified
12Retirees over 65 gave 12% of income on average.
Verified
1345% of non-religious individuals still donated to secular causes.
Single source
14Veterans donated 2x more to military causes.
Directional
15College-educated donors gave 9% more than non-grads.
Verified
16Single women headed households gave 8% above average.
Single source
17Asian Americans had 58% donor rate, highest among ethnic groups.
Verified
18Low-income urban donors prioritized human services 35% more.
Verified
19Baby Boomers controlled 50% of itemized deductions.
Directional
20Millennials (under 40) made 40% of online donations.
Single source

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

1Foundation giving in U.S. reached $103.53 billion in 2022, up 6.9%.
Verified
2Foundations accounted for 21% of total U.S. giving in 2022.
Verified
3Number of U.S. foundations grew to 105,000 by 2022.
Single source
4Community foundations granted $9.4 billion in 2022.
Single source
5Independent foundations gave $63.5 billion in 2021.
Verified
6Top 1% of foundations gave 50% of all grants.
Verified
7Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation granted $5.7 billion in 2022.
Single source
8Corporate foundations disbursed 4.8% of assets on average.
Verified
9Family foundations number 40,000+ with $200B assets.
Verified
10Grantmaking rose 7.5% inflation-adjusted in 2021.
Verified
11Health received 23% of foundation dollars in 2021.
Verified
12Education got 20% of foundation grants.
Verified
13Average foundation grant size was $207,000 in 2021.
Verified
1490% of foundations have endowments under $50M.
Verified
15MacArthur Foundation gave $1.1 billion over 5 years.
Directional
16Payout rates averaged 5.2% for private foundations.
Verified
17New foundations launched at rate of 2,500/year.
Verified
18International grants from U.S. foundations: $10B in 2021.
Verified
19Ford Foundation granted $1 billion in 2022.
Directional
2015% increase in foundation giving to equity issues post-2020.
Verified

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

181 million U.S. households donated to charity in 2021, 51% participation rate.
Verified
2Average household charitable gift was $4,942 in 2021.
Verified
3Households earning under $50K gave 5.5% of income on average in 2021.
Verified
450% of individuals aged 30-49 donated in 2022.
Single source
5High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) gave $510 billion globally in 2022.
Directional
666% of U.S. adults donated to charity in 2023.
Verified
7Average online gift to charity was $128 in 2022.
Verified
828% of donors give monthly recurring gifts.
Verified
9Donors over 70 gave 11% more than average in 2022.
Verified
1041% of Gen Z donated in 2023, highest among generations.
Verified
11Median gift from individuals was $250 in 2021 surveys.
Verified
1260% of donors prefer digital giving methods in 2023.
Verified
13Households with income $100K+ gave 4.2% of income.
Verified
1424% of individuals increased giving post-COVID in 2022.
Verified
15Ultra-wealthy gave 19.7% more in 2022 than 2021.
Single source
1655% of millennials donate to causes they care about annually.
Verified
17Average DAF grant from individuals was $48,000 in 2022.
Verified
1870% of individuals give to religion first.
Verified
19Young donors (18-24) gave 4.7% of income.
Verified
2037% of donors lapsed during pandemic but 25% returned stronger.
Verified
21Women give 4% more than men on average.
Single source
2263% of individuals plan to give same or more in 2024.
Directional

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.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Charitable Giving Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Charitable Giving Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Charitable Giving Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/charitable-giving-statistics.

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