GITNUXREPORT 2025

Non Profit Industry Statistics

Nonprofits contribute significantly, experiencing growth, digital shifts, and fundraising challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The nonprofit sector contributed over $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020

Statistic 2

The average nonprofit spends approximately 6% of its budget on administrative costs

Statistic 3

Nearly 70% of nonprofit organizations rely primarily on donations and grants for funding

Statistic 4

The average nonprofit organization spends about 75% of its funds on program services

Statistic 5

Approximately 62% of Americans give to at least one nonprofit annually

Statistic 6

The most common causes supported by nonprofits are education, health, and human services

Statistic 7

87% of nonprofits report difficulty in recruiting sufficient volunteers

Statistic 8

About 55% of nonprofits have utilized social media to promote their activities

Statistic 9

The sector's fundraising total reached approximately $471 billion in 2021

Statistic 10

About 43% of nonprofits report that they have difficulty sustaining long-term funding

Statistic 11

The top three sources of nonprofit revenue are individual donations, grants, and program services

Statistic 12

60% of nonprofits say that increased regulations have impacted their work

Statistic 13

The average nonprofit spends about 11% of its budget on fundraising activities

Statistic 14

83% of donors say that their giving is motivated by emotional connection rather than strategic planning

Statistic 15

Nonprofits led by diverse boards are 35% more likely to increase revenue

Statistic 16

The top three sectors for nonprofit giving are religion, education, and charities

Statistic 17

Approximately 50% of nonprofits have adopted some form of digital fundraising tools

Statistic 18

The typical annual fundraising goal for nonprofits ranges between $25,000 and $250,000

Statistic 19

Nearly 60% of nonprofit leaders are concerned about maintaining financial stability amid economic uncertainty

Statistic 20

Approximately 80% of nonprofits report that community engagement is a key part of their mission

Statistic 21

45% of nonprofits utilize CRM software to manage donors and membership

Statistic 22

52% of nonprofits report facing challenges in diversifying funding sources

Statistic 23

The average nonprofit receives about 6.5% of its funding from government grants

Statistic 24

Approximately 37% of nonprofits have an endowment fund to support long-term sustainability

Statistic 25

The total number of nonprofit in-kind donations valued at over $20 billion annually in the U.S.

Statistic 26

The sector’s volunteer retention rate is approximately 50%, indicating room for improvement in volunteer engagement

Statistic 27

The average age of online donors in nonprofits is 45 years old, showing a mature donor base

Statistic 28

Nonprofits account for approximately 5.2% of the U.S. private-sector workforce

Statistic 29

Approximately 74% of nonprofit survey respondents reported increased workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 30

Over 65 million volunteers contributed an estimated 5.8 billion hours to nonprofits in 2020, value approximately $173 billion

Statistic 31

The nonprofit employment rate in the U.S. is roughly 10%

Statistic 32

40% of nonprofit organizations report challenges related to leadership development

Statistic 33

Most nonprofits see volunteers as critical to their success, with 85% stating volunteers are essential

Statistic 34

Only about 30% of nonprofits report having a succession plan for key leadership roles

Statistic 35

The nonprofit sector attracts about 1.3 million new volunteers annually

Statistic 36

Fewer than 20% of nonprofits have dedicated diversity and inclusion training programs for staff

Statistic 37

Nonprofit job postings often see a 15% higher applicant rate when offering flexible work arrangements

Statistic 38

Around 1.6 million registered nonprofit organizations are operating in the United States

Statistic 39

The median annual revenue for nonprofits in the U.S. is approximately $300,000

Statistic 40

Women lead about 45% of nonprofits in the U.S.

Statistic 41

The average age of nonprofit board members is 62 years

Statistic 42

Approximately 60% of nonprofits have a strategic plan in place

Statistic 43

The median staff size for nonprofit organizations is 4 employees

Statistic 44

The percentage of nonprofits with a paid staff has increased to over 56%

Statistic 45

Youth-serving nonprofits constitute about 25% of all nonprofits

Statistic 46

The average age of a nonprofit executive director is 52 years

Statistic 47

About 25% of nonprofits have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) officer

Statistic 48

Nonprofits in the health sector constitute approximately 20% of all nonprofits

Statistic 49

About 15% of nonprofits operate with a budget under $50,000, indicating a high prevalence of small nonprofits

Statistic 50

The majority of nonprofit executives are women, comprising about 58% of leadership positions

Statistic 51

About 40% of nonprofits operate in rural areas, facing unique challenges compared to urban counterparts

Statistic 52

Nonprofit hospitals account for roughly 15% of all hospitals in the U.S.

Statistic 53

About 80% of nonprofits report that strategic planning has helped improve their organizational effectiveness

Statistic 54

The nonprofit sector in the U.S. has grown by approximately 1.4% annually over the past decade

Statistic 55

The growth of online donations increased by 13.5% from 2019 to 2020

Statistic 56

The proportion of nonprofits reporting a digital transformation initiative has increased to 45% in 2022, from 33% in 2020

Statistic 57

Approximately 20% of nonprofits are designated as social enterprises, blending nonprofit and for-profit models

Statistic 58

The percentage of digital volunteers in nonprofits increased by 22% from 2018 to 2022

Statistic 59

The number of nonprofit organizations established annually has increased by around 3% per year over the past decade

Statistic 60

The pandemic accelerated online fundraising growth, with digital donations increasing by over 20% in 2020

Statistic 61

Around 30% of nonprofits report that they are actively pursuing mergers or collaborations to enhance sustainability

Statistic 62

The nonprofit industry has seen a 25% increase in technological adoption over the past five years, including cloud-based tools

Statistic 63

There has been an increase of 12% in the number of nonprofits dedicated to environmental causes in the last five years

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Key Highlights

The nonprofit sector contributed over $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020
Nonprofits account for approximately 5.2% of the U.S. private-sector workforce
Around 1.6 million registered nonprofit organizations are operating in the United States
The median annual revenue for nonprofits in the U.S. is approximately $300,000
Approximately 74% of nonprofit survey respondents reported increased workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nearly 70% of nonprofit organizations rely primarily on donations and grants for funding
The average nonprofit organization spends about 75% of its funds on program services
Approximately 62% of Americans give to at least one nonprofit annually
The nonprofit sector in the U.S. has grown by approximately 1.4% annually over the past decade
Women lead about 45% of nonprofits in the U.S.
The average age of nonprofit board members is 62 years
Approximately 60% of nonprofits have a strategic plan in place
The most common causes supported by nonprofits are education, health, and human services

The nonprofit industry is a powerhouse shaping the U.S. economy with over $1.1 trillion contributed in 2020, hundreds of thousands of organizations, and millions of volunteers dedicated to transforming communities and lives nationwide.

Financial Contribution and Economic Impact

The nonprofit sector contributed over $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020
The average nonprofit spends approximately 6% of its budget on administrative costs

Financial Contribution and Economic Impact Interpretation

While nonprofits contributed a staggering $1.1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2020, their diligent budget multitasking—spending just 6% on administration—reminds us that even heroes need a modest headquarters fund.

Funding, Donors, and Volunteer Engagement

Nearly 70% of nonprofit organizations rely primarily on donations and grants for funding
The average nonprofit organization spends about 75% of its funds on program services
Approximately 62% of Americans give to at least one nonprofit annually
The most common causes supported by nonprofits are education, health, and human services
87% of nonprofits report difficulty in recruiting sufficient volunteers
About 55% of nonprofits have utilized social media to promote their activities
The sector's fundraising total reached approximately $471 billion in 2021
About 43% of nonprofits report that they have difficulty sustaining long-term funding
The top three sources of nonprofit revenue are individual donations, grants, and program services
60% of nonprofits say that increased regulations have impacted their work
The average nonprofit spends about 11% of its budget on fundraising activities
83% of donors say that their giving is motivated by emotional connection rather than strategic planning
Nonprofits led by diverse boards are 35% more likely to increase revenue
The top three sectors for nonprofit giving are religion, education, and charities
Approximately 50% of nonprofits have adopted some form of digital fundraising tools
The typical annual fundraising goal for nonprofits ranges between $25,000 and $250,000
Nearly 60% of nonprofit leaders are concerned about maintaining financial stability amid economic uncertainty
Approximately 80% of nonprofits report that community engagement is a key part of their mission
45% of nonprofits utilize CRM software to manage donors and membership
52% of nonprofits report facing challenges in diversifying funding sources
The average nonprofit receives about 6.5% of its funding from government grants
Approximately 37% of nonprofits have an endowment fund to support long-term sustainability
The total number of nonprofit in-kind donations valued at over $20 billion annually in the U.S.
The sector’s volunteer retention rate is approximately 50%, indicating room for improvement in volunteer engagement
The average age of online donors in nonprofits is 45 years old, showing a mature donor base

Funding, Donors, and Volunteer Engagement Interpretation

With nearly 70% of nonprofits relying on donations and grants fueled by emotional bonds rather than strategic plans, it’s clear that while nonprofits are making significant societal investments—spending around 75% of funds on programs—the sector’s sustainability hinges on overcoming volunteer engagement challenges, diversifying funding streams, and embracing digital tools to ensure their mission-driven work endures beyond the current economic and regulatory upheavals.

Human Resources and Workforce Dynamics

Nonprofits account for approximately 5.2% of the U.S. private-sector workforce
Approximately 74% of nonprofit survey respondents reported increased workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic
Over 65 million volunteers contributed an estimated 5.8 billion hours to nonprofits in 2020, value approximately $173 billion
The nonprofit employment rate in the U.S. is roughly 10%
40% of nonprofit organizations report challenges related to leadership development
Most nonprofits see volunteers as critical to their success, with 85% stating volunteers are essential
Only about 30% of nonprofits report having a succession plan for key leadership roles
The nonprofit sector attracts about 1.3 million new volunteers annually
Fewer than 20% of nonprofits have dedicated diversity and inclusion training programs for staff
Nonprofit job postings often see a 15% higher applicant rate when offering flexible work arrangements

Human Resources and Workforce Dynamics Interpretation

While nonprofits underpin nearly 5.2% of America's private-sector workforce and mobilize millions of volunteers bringing in an estimated $173 billion worth of service, they still grapple with leadership development, diversity training, and sustainable succession planning—highlighting that even in a sector fueled by altruism and resilience, strategic growth remains an essential pursuit.

Organizational Demographics and Size

Around 1.6 million registered nonprofit organizations are operating in the United States
The median annual revenue for nonprofits in the U.S. is approximately $300,000
Women lead about 45% of nonprofits in the U.S.
The average age of nonprofit board members is 62 years
Approximately 60% of nonprofits have a strategic plan in place
The median staff size for nonprofit organizations is 4 employees
The percentage of nonprofits with a paid staff has increased to over 56%
Youth-serving nonprofits constitute about 25% of all nonprofits
The average age of a nonprofit executive director is 52 years
About 25% of nonprofits have a dedicated DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) officer
Nonprofits in the health sector constitute approximately 20% of all nonprofits
About 15% of nonprofits operate with a budget under $50,000, indicating a high prevalence of small nonprofits
The majority of nonprofit executives are women, comprising about 58% of leadership positions
About 40% of nonprofits operate in rural areas, facing unique challenges compared to urban counterparts
Nonprofit hospitals account for roughly 15% of all hospitals in the U.S.
About 80% of nonprofits report that strategic planning has helped improve their organizational effectiveness

Organizational Demographics and Size Interpretation

With over 1.6 million nonprofits navigating a landscape where most are petite yet impactful, led predominantly by women averaging in their early 50s and guided by strategic plans — despite challenges of size, rural hurdles, and diversity gaps — the sector's resilience and evolving leadership remain a testament to the vital, complex fabric of American social good.

Trends and Growth Indicators

The nonprofit sector in the U.S. has grown by approximately 1.4% annually over the past decade
The growth of online donations increased by 13.5% from 2019 to 2020
The proportion of nonprofits reporting a digital transformation initiative has increased to 45% in 2022, from 33% in 2020
Approximately 20% of nonprofits are designated as social enterprises, blending nonprofit and for-profit models
The percentage of digital volunteers in nonprofits increased by 22% from 2018 to 2022
The number of nonprofit organizations established annually has increased by around 3% per year over the past decade
The pandemic accelerated online fundraising growth, with digital donations increasing by over 20% in 2020
Around 30% of nonprofits report that they are actively pursuing mergers or collaborations to enhance sustainability
The nonprofit industry has seen a 25% increase in technological adoption over the past five years, including cloud-based tools
There has been an increase of 12% in the number of nonprofits dedicated to environmental causes in the last five years

Trends and Growth Indicators Interpretation

As the nonprofit sector steadily evolves into a digitally driven landscape—marked by rising online fundraising, increased technological adoption, and innovative hybrid models—its resilience and adaptability underscore a vital shift: in an era of rapid change, charitable organizations are not just surviving but proactively transforming to meet tomorrow's challenges.