Despite economic turbulence and global challenges, an astonishing $1.37 trillion flowed from generous hearts to charitable causes in 2022, proving that our collective instinct to give is not just resilient but powerfully on the rise.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, total global philanthropic giving amounted to $1.37 trillion USD, representing a 4.2% increase adjusted for inflation from 2021.
- The World Giving Index 2023 ranked Indonesia as the most generous country, with 83% of respondents donating money in the past month.
- Globally, 72% of people helped a stranger in the past month in 2023, up from 68% in 2022.
- In 2022, total US charitable giving reached $499.33 billion, a 3.4% decline from 2021 adjusted for inflation.
- Giving by individuals in the US was $319.04 billion in 2022, comprising 64% of total giving.
- US foundations distributed $103.53 billion in 2022, up 7.5% from prior year.
- Women in the US are 13% more likely to donate than men, per 2022 data.
- Baby Boomers donated $200 billion annually, averaging 3.5% of income to charity.
- Millennials give 69% more to online charities than other generations in 2023 surveys.
- Religion receives 32% of all US donations, highest among charity types.
- Education (K-12 and higher ed) accounted for 14% of US giving at $71 billion in 2022.
- Human services nonprofits received 13.5% of donations, $67.5 billion in 2022.
- Global charitable giving expected to grow 4.5% annually to $1.5T by 2025.
- US giving projected to reach $600 billion by 2025, driven by wealth transfer.
- Online donations to rise 15% yearly, hitting $25B in US by 2025.
Global charitable giving is growing and is driven by widespread generosity and diverse donor motivations.
Donor Demographics
- Women in the US are 13% more likely to donate than men, per 2022 data.
- Baby Boomers donated $200 billion annually, averaging 3.5% of income to charity.
- Millennials give 69% more to online charities than other generations in 2023 surveys.
- High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) with $1M+ assets donated 7.2% of income in 2022.
- 72% of US donors aged 55+ cite religious motivations for giving.
- Gen Z donors prioritize mental health causes, giving 25% more than average to them.
- Married couples donate 78% more than single individuals annually.
- Black Americans give 25% more of their income to charity (4%) than white counterparts (3%).
- 85% of women donors prefer recurring gifts compared to 72% of men.
- Donors under 40 are 2x more likely to support environmental causes.
- Rural residents donate 10% more time but 5% less money than urban dwellers.
- College-educated donors give 45% more than those without degrees.
- Parents with children donate 15% higher amounts to education charities.
- 60% of Hispanic donors in the US support faith-based organizations.
- Elderly donors (75+) average $5,200 annual gifts, highest per capita.
- Corporate executives donate 4x more to alma maters than non-executives.
- LGBTQ+ donors prioritize equality causes, contributing 30% above average.
- Self-employed individuals give 20% more to local community causes.
- Women-led households donate 12% more to health and human services.
Donor Demographics Interpretation
From these statistics, it seems American generosity is a vibrant patchwork where women, Boomers, and the faithful set the charitable pace with their wallets, while younger generations, minority communities, and the self-employed stitch in vital new priorities and passionate focus.
Global Statistics
- In 2022, total global philanthropic giving amounted to $1.37 trillion USD, representing a 4.2% increase adjusted for inflation from 2021.
- The World Giving Index 2023 ranked Indonesia as the most generous country, with 83% of respondents donating money in the past month.
- Globally, 72% of people helped a stranger in the past month in 2023, up from 68% in 2022.
- In 2022, international philanthropy from high-income countries to low- and middle-income countries totaled $89.2 billion.
- The global fundraising market grew by 7.5% in 2022, reaching €150 billion in total revenue for nonprofits.
- In 2023, 64% of the world's population donated to charity at least once, compared to 57% pre-pandemic.
- Global corporate giving reached $28 billion in 2022, with a focus on sustainability initiatives.
- In 2022, remittances from migrants globally exceeded $800 billion, often directed towards charitable causes.
- The UK donated £12.7 billion to charity in 2022/23, equivalent to £460 per adult.
- In Australia, charitable giving totaled AUD 13.6 billion in 2022, up 11% from 2021.
- Kenya led Africa in the 2023 World Giving Index with 83% volunteering rate.
- Global foundation giving surged to $200 billion in 2021, with projections for continued growth.
- In 2022, 47% of global respondents volunteered time to charity, highest in Oceania at 54%.
- India's charitable donations reached INR 25,000 crore in FY2022, driven by HNI contributions.
- Europe saw €120 billion in donations in 2022, with Germany contributing €14 billion.
- In 2023, 60% of Libyans donated despite economic challenges, topping Arab region generosity.
- Global online giving grew 12% in 2022 to $15 billion, led by digital platforms.
- Singapore's total giving was SGD 2.2 billion in 2022, with 59% household participation.
- In 2022, philanthropic billionaires donated $510 billion over the last three decades globally.
- Africa's giving totaled $1.5 billion in individual donations in 2022, per Hagberg research.
Global Statistics Interpretation
Despite the world's abundant capacity for cynicism, humanity's stubborn habit of generosity—from Indonesian wallets to Libyan resilience, and from billionaires' billions to migrants' remittances—proves the global ledger of goodwill is not only open but growing, one altruistic entry at a time.
Trends and Future Projections
- Global charitable giving expected to grow 4.5% annually to $1.5T by 2025.
- US giving projected to reach $600 billion by 2025, driven by wealth transfer.
- Online donations to rise 15% yearly, hitting $25B in US by 2025.
- Gen Z and Millennials to drive 50% of giving growth by 2030.
- Corporate ESG giving to double to $60B globally by 2027.
- Impact investing in philanthropy to reach $1T by 2025.
- Post-pandemic, volunteerism down 20% but cash giving up 10% through 2023.
- Crypto donations to grow 50% annually to $5B by 2025.
- AI-driven personalized fundraising to boost retention by 30% by 2025.
- Wealth transfer from Boomers: $84T by 2045, 10% to charity.
- Global South giving to rise 8% yearly, closing North-South gap.
- DAF assets to hit $300B in US by 2025, distributing $50B/year.
- Recurring donations up 25% since 2020, projected 40% of online gifts by 2025.
- Climate philanthropy to triple to $150B annually by 2030.
- US individual giving to rebound 5.2% in 2023 after 2022 dip.
- Mobile giving apps to capture 20% of donations by 2025 globally.
- Female-led foundations to increase giving by 15% through 2030.
- Peer-to-peer fundraising growth: 12% annually to 2027.
- Global volunteering to recover to 2019 levels by 2025.
- Tax incentives to boost US bequest giving 20% by 2030.
Trends and Future Projections Interpretation
The philanthropic landscape is undergoing a seismic, tech-fueled transformation, with an unprecedented intergenerational wealth transfer poised to turbocharge giving as younger, digital-native donors and impact-focused corporations demand measurable, personalized change.
Types of Charities
- Religion receives 32% of all US donations, highest among charity types.
- Education (K-12 and higher ed) accounted for 14% of US giving at $71 billion in 2022.
- Human services nonprofits received 13.5% of donations, $67.5 billion in 2022.
- Health organizations got 9% of total giving, $44.8 billion in US 2022.
- International affairs charities raised $28.6 billion, 6% of US total in 2022.
- Public-society benefit groups like civil rights got 11%, $55 billion in 2022.
- Environment/animal causes: 3%, $15 billion; arts: 3%, $15 billion in US 2022.
- Youth/family services within human services: $12.4 billion in 2022 US giving.
- Higher education donations: $60 billion, 80% from individuals in 2022.
- Disaster relief charities raised $4.2 billion post-hurricanes in 2022 US.
- Animal welfare orgs saw 15% giving increase to $8 billion globally in 2022.
- Mental health nonprofits received $2.5 billion in new US funding 2022.
- Food banks and hunger relief: $10 billion US donations amid inflation 2022.
- Museums and arts orgs: average $500K per org from individuals in 2022.
- Veteran support groups raised $7.8 billion in US 2022 giving.
- Global health charities like Gates Foundation focus: $50B annually.
- Homeless shelters within human services: $5.3 billion US 2022.
- Religious international aid: 40% of faith-based giving, $50B global.
- Climate action NGOs: $12 billion from philanthropists in 2022.
- US higher ed endowments grew giving by 5% to $50B in 2022.
Types of Charities Interpretation
While faith takes the lion's share of the charitable purse, the nation's generosity showcases a sprawling, multi-billion dollar debate between our souls, our minds, and our immediate needs.
United States Statistics
- In 2022, total US charitable giving reached $499.33 billion, a 3.4% decline from 2021 adjusted for inflation.
- Giving by individuals in the US was $319.04 billion in 2022, comprising 64% of total giving.
- US foundations distributed $103.53 billion in 2022, up 7.5% from prior year.
- Bequests to charity in the US totaled $42.88 billion in 2022, a record high.
- Corporate giving in the US amounted to $29.48 billion in 2022, including 1.6% of pretax profits.
- Religion received $132.22 billion in US donations in 2022, 27% of total giving.
- Education nonprofits in the US got $69.05 billion in 2022, down 7.9% adjusted for inflation.
- Human services charities received $67.22 billion in the US in 2022, up 4.1%.
- Grantmaking organizations in the US saw $61.98 billion in contributions in 2022.
- Arts, culture, and humanities received $17.10 billion in US giving in 2022.
- In 2022, the top 400 US philanthropists gave $51 billion, led by MacKenzie Scott's $1.7B.
- Average US household donation was $4,151 in 2022, per Giving USA estimates.
- US online giving hit $13.1 billion in 2022, 12% growth year-over-year.
- States like Utah led US generosity at 6.6% of income given to charity in 2022.
- California residents donated $68 billion to charity in 2022, highest statewide total.
- US megadonors gave $36 billion in 2022, focusing on education and health.
- Volunteer hours in the US totaled 5.8 billion in 2022, worth $134 billion economically.
- US giving to international affairs rose to $28.6 billion in 2022, up 7.8%.
- Public broadcasting received $1.3 billion in US individual gifts in 2022.
- Environment and animals got $14.12 billion in US donations in 2022.
- Health organizations received $44.66 billion in the US in 2022.
- 50% of US adults donated to charity in 2022, down from 56% in 2021.
- Households earning over $100K gave 42% of total US individual contributions in 2022.
- Boomers (age 59-77) contributed 40% of US itemized deductions in 2022.
United States Statistics Interpretation
Americans gave nearly half a trillion dollars in 2022, proving generosity persists despite a slight dip, as record bequests, surging foundation grants, and an army of volunteers quietly built a counter-narrative to the day's cynicism.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CAFONLINEcafonline.orgVisit source
- Reference 2OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 3NONPROFITTECHFOR-GOODnonprofittechfor-good.comVisit source
- Reference 4CECPcecp.coVisit source
- Reference 5WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 6ACNCacnc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7CANDIDcandid.orgVisit source
- Reference 8DAKSHINCHITRAdakshinchitra.orgVisit source
- Reference 9DIANOVAdianova.orgVisit source
- Reference 10NCSSncss.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 11CRONKITEcronkite.asu.eduVisit source
- Reference 12HAGBERGhagberg.comVisit source
- Reference 13GIVINGUSAgivingusa.orgVisit source
- Reference 14CHRONICLEOFPHILANTHROPYchronicleofphilanthropy.orgVisit source
- Reference 15M+RBENCHMARKSm+rbenchmarks.comVisit source
- Reference 16PHILANTHROPYROUNDTABLEphilanthropyroundtable.orgVisit source
- Reference 17NATIONALSERVICEnationalservice.govVisit source
- Reference 18NBERnber.orgVisit source
- Reference 19IRSirs.govVisit source
- Reference 20WOMENPHILANTHROPYwomenphilanthropy.orgVisit source
- Reference 21BARNAbarna.comVisit source
- Reference 22COMMONWEALTHcommonwealth.comVisit source
- Reference 23BMPIPEbmpipe.comVisit source
- Reference 24URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 25FUNDRAISINGCOUNCILfundraisingcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 26NFIBnfib.comVisit source
- Reference 27CASEcase.orgVisit source
- Reference 28NONPROFITFINANCEFUNDnonprofitfinancefund.orgVisit source
- Reference 29CHARITYNAVIGATORcharitynavigator.orgVisit source
- Reference 30CHARITYWATCHcharitywatch.orgVisit source
- Reference 31FEEDINGAMERICAfeedingamerica.orgVisit source
- Reference 32AAAaaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 33GATESFOUNDATIONgatesfoundation.orgVisit source
- Reference 34ENDHOMELESSNESSendhomelessness.orgVisit source
- Reference 35FAITHBASEDGIVINGfaithbasedgiving.orgVisit source
- Reference 36CLIMATEWORKSclimateworks.orgVisit source
- Reference 37NACUBOnacubo.nacubo.orgVisit source
- Reference 38BCGbcg.comVisit source
- Reference 39ACHIEVINGTHEGIVINGPROMISEachievingthegivingpromise.orgVisit source
- Reference 40GLOBALIMPACTINVESTINGNETWORKglobalimpactinvestingnetwork.orgVisit source
- Reference 41THEGIVINGBLOCKthegivingblock.comVisit source
- Reference 42CLASSYclassy.orgVisit source