Nonprofit organizations employed 12.4 million people in 2022, representing 10% of the US workforce. This essential sector operates with an average wage 10% below the for-profit average and a narrow 2.1% operating margin.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, nonprofits employed 12.4 million people, up 2% from 2021
- In FY2021, US nonprofits reported $2.62 trillion in total revenue
- US charitable giving reached $499.33 billion in 2022, up 3.4%
- In 2022, US nonprofits delivered services to 148 million Americans
- As of 2022, there were 1.54 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States
Nonprofit organizations rely on key funding and volunteer trends to sustain impact year after year.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Workforce26 stats
01
In 2022, nonprofits employed 12.4 million people, up 2% from 2021
02
82% of nonprofit workers are full-time employees per 2022 data
03
Average nonprofit wage was $52,000annually in 2022, 10% below for-profit average
04
Health care nonprofits employ 5.8 million workers in 2022
05
65% of nonprofits struggle with staff retention post-2022
06
Education nonprofits employ 3.2 million in 2022
07
Nonprofit volunteer hours totaled 5.8 billion in 2021, valued at $133 billion
08
14% of US workforce employed by nonprofits in 2022 BLS
09
Social assistance nonprofits employ 2.1 million in 2022
10
48% of nonprofits reported hiring challenges in 2023 survey
11
Arts nonprofits employ 700,000 workers in 2022
12
Nonprofit sector added 1.2 million jobs from 2019-2022
13
70% of nonprofit CEOs are women per 2022 data
14
Religious orgs employ 1.1 million paid staff in 2021
15
55% of nonprofits offer mental health benefits in 2023
16
Human services employ 10% of nonprofit workforce in 2022
17
Volunteer rate among employed Americans was 23% in 2021
18
Nonprofit admin staff turnover rate 19% in 2022
19
Environmental nonprofits employ 250,000 in 2022
20
42% of nonprofits increased wages by 5%+ in 2022
21
Animal welfare employs 120,000 full-time in 2021
22
60% of nonprofits use contractors amid staffing shortages 2023
23
Grantmaking orgs employ 50,000 in 2022
24
Nonprofit workforce diversity: 40% people of color in 2022
25
International aid nonprofits employ 300,000 US-based in 2022
26
75% of nonprofits provide DEI training per 2023 survey
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
The nonprofit sector, powered by a 12.4 million-strong workforce that is majority female-led and delivers staggering societal value, is nonetheless grappling with a painful paradox: it is growing and essential yet persistently undervalued, as seen in its 10% wage gap and chronic retention struggles despite increased DEI efforts.
02 · Category
Financial Performance27 stats
01
In FY2021, US nonprofits reported $2.62 trillion in total revenue
02
Program service revenue made up 72% of nonprofit revenue in 2021
03
Contributions to nonprofits totaled $484.9 billion in 2022 per Giving USA
04
Average nonprofit operating margin was 2.1% in 2022
05
45% of nonprofits ended 2022 with a budget surplus
06
Investment income for nonprofits rose 15% to $122 billion in 2021
07
Government grants comprised 18% of nonprofit revenue in 2021
08
Median nonprofit expenses grew 7.2% from 2020-2021
09
28% of nonprofits reported deficit budgets in 2022 surveys
10
Health subsector nonprofits had $1.17 trillion revenue in 2021
11
Nonprofit endowments averaged 4.5% return in 2022
12
Fees for services generated $1.04 trillion for nonprofits in 2021
13
52% of nonprofits increased cash reserves in 2022
14
Education nonprofits revenue hit $210 billion in 2021
15
Average nonprofit debt-to-equity ratio was 0.45 in 2022
16
Human services nonprofits revenue was $380 billion in 2021
17
35% of nonprofits faced liquidity issues in 2022
18
Arts nonprofits revenue recovered to $28 billion in 2022
19
Nonprofit administrative costs averaged 12% of expenses in 2021
20
Religious nonprofits revenue estimated at $128 billion in 2021
21
41% of nonprofits reported revenue growth over 5% in 2022
22
Environmental nonprofits revenue was $15 billion in 2021
23
Average nonprofit fundraising expense ratio was 18% in 2022
24
Animal nonprofits revenue totaled $12.6 billion in 2021
25
22% of nonprofits had negative working capital in 2022
26
International nonprofits revenue $52 billion in 2021
27
Nonprofit sector total assets grew 8% to $6.2 trillion in 2021
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
While nonprofits hauled in an impressive $2.62 trillion, largely through their core services, the razor-thin 2.1% operating margin reveals a sector perpetually threading a needle between mission delivery and financial fragility, where growth and anxiety are constant, if uneasy, bedfellows.
03 · Category
Fundraising and Donations28 stats
01
US charitable giving reached $499.33 billion in 2022, up 3.4%
02
Individuals donated $319.04 billion in 2022, 64% of total giving
03
Foundations gave $103.56 billion in 2022
04
Bequests totaled $42.88 billion to nonprofits in 2022
05
Corporate giving rose to $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4%
06
Online giving grew 13.5% to $12.5 billion in 2022
07
24% of US adults donated monthly via digital in 2023
08
Donor-advised funds granted $49.3 billion in 2022
09
Recurring donors give 42% more annually per 2022 data
10
70% of nonprofits use email for fundraising, ROI 42:1 in 2022
11
Major gifts over $100k totaled 10% of revenue for top nonprofits 2022
12
Crowdfunding raised $1.8 billion for nonprofits in 2022
13
55% of donors prefer digital giving options per 2023 survey
14
Event fundraising averaged $45k per event for mid-size orgs 2022
15
Peer-to-peer fundraising grew 20% to $4.5 billion in 2022
16
31% donor retention rate average for nonprofits in 2022
17
Text-to-give raised $1.2 billion in 2022, up 15%
18
45% of giving influenced by social media in 2023 survey
19
Planned giving comprised 8% of total donations in 2022
20
Matching gifts unlocked $1.2 billion in 2022
21
Year-end giving accounts for 30% of annual revenue average
22
68% of millennials donate if asked personally per 2022
23
Grants from foundations 12% of revenue for small nonprofits 2022
24
Vehicle donations raised $1.5 billion in 2022
25
50% of donors research charities online before giving
26
Corporate volunteer programs boosted donations by 25% in 2022
27
62 million Americans volunteered in 2021, aiding fundraising
28
NFT donations to nonprofits hit $25 million in 2022
Interpretation
Fundraising and Donations Interpretation
While Americans loosened their philanthropic purse strings to the tune of half a trillion dollars last year, their generosity now hums along a digital backbone, proving that even charity has learned to swipe right for a better return on kindness.
More related reading
04 · Category
Impact and Trends28 stats
01
In 2022, US nonprofits delivered services to 148 million Americans
02
Nonprofit-led disaster relief aided 50 million people globally in 2022
03
90% of US social safety net provided by nonprofits per 2021 data
04
Nonprofits vaccinated 40% of global population via partnerships 2022
05
Hunger relief nonprofits fed 50 million Americans in 2022
06
Environmental nonprofits conserved 10 million acres in 2022
07
75% of homeless services by nonprofits in US 2022
08
Arts nonprofits reached 100 million audience members in 2022
09
Nonprofits trained 20 million in workforce development 2022
10
Animal nonprofits sheltered 3.1 million pets in 2022
11
85% of blood donations collected by nonprofits like Red Cross 2022
12
Nonprofits provided mental health services to 60 million in 2022
13
Global poverty reduction: nonprofits lifted 120 million out 2022
14
US nonprofits recycled 100 million tons of waste in 2022
15
Senior care nonprofits served 12 million elderly in 2022
16
Nonprofits educated 15 million K-12 students outside public schools 2022
17
Disability services reached 20 million via nonprofits 2022
18
Nonprofits planted 500 million trees globally in 2022
19
Youth programs served 40 million children in 2022
20
Nonprofits advocated for 200 policy changes benefiting 100M in 2022
21
Health nonprofits screened 50 million for diseases in 2022
22
Immigrant services aided 5 million newcomers in US 2022
23
Nonprofits reduced recidivism by 25% for 1 million ex-offenders 2022
24
95% of US museums operated by nonprofits served 800M visitors 2022
25
Nonprofits distributed $200 billion in aid internationally 2022
26
LGBTQ+ nonprofits supported 10 million individuals in 2022
27
Nonprofits fostered 300,000 children in US 2022
28
68% of nonprofits adopted AI tools by 2023
Interpretation
Impact and Trends Interpretation
While governments were busy debating budgets, America's nonprofit sector was quietly running the country's most vital safety net, saving the planet, and curing souls—all before lunch.
05 · Category
Size and Scope30 stats
01
As of 2022, there were 1.54 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States
02
Nonprofits account for 5.2% of private sector GDP in the US as of 2021
03
The nonprofit sector employed 12.3 million paid workers in 2022, representing 10% of the US workforce
04
There are over 1.3 million public charities in the US per IRS data from 2021
05
Globally, nonprofits contribute $2.3 trillion to the world economy annually as estimated in 2020
06
In 2022, US nonprofits held $4.1 trillion in assets
07
Nonprofits make up 72% of US museums and 73% of hospitals, per 2021 data
08
Canada had 170,000 registered charities in 2022
09
UK has over 168,000 registered charities as of 2023
10
Nonprofits represent 10% of all employment in the European Union per 2020 Eurostat data
11
In 2021, US nonprofits generated $1.3 trillion in program revenue
12
Australia has 55,000 charities registered with the ACNC in 2023
13
Nonprofits account for 12.3% of US private workforce in 2022 BLS data
14
Global nonprofit revenue reached $2.5 trillion in 2019 pre-pandemic
15
US has 1.41 million 501(c)(3) organizations active in 2022
16
Nonprofits operate 95% of US senior housing facilities per 2021 data
17
In 2022, nonprofits accounted for 27% of arts organizations in the US
18
Brazil has over 800,000 nonprofits registered as of 2020
19
Nonprofits contribute 4.5% to France's GDP in 2021
20
US nonprofits number 12.5 per 1,000 population in 2022
21
India has 3.2 million NGOs as estimated in 2023
22
Nonprofits hold 10% of US health care market share in 2022
23
Germany has 600,000 nonprofit associations in 2021
24
Nonprofits represent 8% of global GDP per 2016 UN data updated 2020
25
Japan has 50,000 NPOs under NPO law as of 2022
26
US nonprofits grew by 4.5% from 2018-2022
27
South Africa has 250,000 NPOs registered in 2023
28
Nonprofits account for 15% of education providers in US per 2021 NCES
29
Mexico has 45,000 authorized nonprofits in 2022
30
Nonprofits comprise 25% of social service agencies globally per 2020 World Bank
Interpretation
Size and Scope Interpretation
The nonprofit sector, often perceived as the world's earnest side hustle, is in fact a colossal economic engine—a titan of housing, healthcare, and culture that, if it were a country, would boast a GDP rivaling some of the world's largest economies, quietly proving that mission-driven work is anything but small business.
Reference
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
Helena Kowalczyk. (2026, February 13). Nonprofit Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-industry-statistics
MLA
Helena Kowalczyk. "Nonprofit Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Helena Kowalczyk. 2026. "Nonprofit Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
81 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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