In 2022, U.S. nonprofits generated $1.3 trillion in total revenue, but program expenses averaged 78% of budgets for 4-star organizations in 2023, leaving less room for growth where it matters. At the same time, administrative costs averaged 12.5% in 2022, even as many nonprofits faced shrinking margins and shifting revenue sources. This article connects financial performance with donations and impact metrics to explain where the sector’s money and outcomes start to diverge.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. nonprofits generated $1.3 trillion in total revenue, representing 5.2% of the national GDP
- Total individual giving to nonprofits reached $499.33 billion in 2022, up 6% adjusted for inflation
- U.S. nonprofits delivered services to 150 million people in 2022
- 3.7 million nonprofits registered in the U.S. as of 2023 IRS filings
- Nonprofit sector grew 4.2% in 2022, outpacing GDP by 1.5%
- U.S. nonprofits employ 12.3 million paid workers, 10% of the workforce in 2022
Nonprofits boosted community impact by improving services, strengthening funding, and increasing volunteer support.
Related reading
01 · Category
Financial Performance15 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. nonprofits generated $1.3 trillion in total revenue, representing 5.2% of the national GDP
02
The average operating budget for U.S. nonprofits in 2023 was $2.8 million, with 45% reporting budget increases year-over-year
03
Nonprofits held $4.1 trillion in assets as of 2021 IRS data, up 12% from 2019
04
72% of nonprofits experienced revenue declines during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, averaging a 15% drop
05
Program expenses averaged 78% of total budgets for 4-star Charity Navigator rated nonprofits in 2023
06
Administrative costs for nonprofits averaged 12.5% of budgets in 2022, per BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards
07
Fundraising efficiency ratio for top nonprofits was $0.12raised per dollar spent in 2023
08
28% of nonprofit endowments grew by over 10% in 2022 due to market gains
09
Unrestricted net assets for arts nonprofits averaged $1.2 million in 2022
10
65% of health nonprofits reported surplus margins of 3-5% in fiscal 2022
11
Education nonprofits saw 18% average revenue growth from tuition in 2023
12
Environmental nonprofits' government grants comprised 42% of revenue in 2022
13
51% of human services nonprofits had liquidity ratios below 0.5 in 2021
14
Religious nonprofits accounted for 72% of total nonprofit revenue in 2020 at $1.18 trillion
15
International aid nonprofits raised $28.4 billion in 2022, up 4.1% from 2021
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
The nonprofit sector shows remarkable resilience, emerging from the pandemic's shadow as an economic heavyweight with $4 trillion in assets, yet its strength is tested by razor-thin margins, an over-reliance on volatile funding, and a sobering fact: while we hold a fifth of the nation's wealth, nearly half of human service organizations are just a single paycheck away from financial distress.
02 · Category
Fundraising and Donations18 stats
01
Total individual giving to nonprofits reached $499.33 billion in 2022, up 6% adjusted for inflation
02
Online donations grew 13.2% to $85 billion for nonprofits in 2022
03
70% of donors prefer digital giving methods in 2023 surveys
04
Major gifts over $100k accounted for 20% of nonprofit revenue in 2022
05
Corporate giving totaled $29.48 billion in 2022, favoring education at 32%
06
Planned giving raised $42.9 billion, with bequests comprising 85%
07
Donor retention rate averaged 45% for nonprofits in 2022, down from 50% pre-2020
08
55% of donors give to religion, averaging $1,200 per household annually
09
Crowdfunding platforms facilitated $1.8 billion for nonprofits in 2022
10
Email fundraising ROI averaged 42:1 for top performers in 2023
11
68% of millennials donate via mobile apps, contributing $15 billion yearly
12
Foundation grants totaled $146.41 billion in 2022, up 7.5%
13
Recurring donors give 42% more annually than one-time givers, per 2023 data
14
Peer-to-peer fundraising raised $4.5 billion, with 25% growth in 2022
15
Government funding to nonprofits was $300 billion in contracts and grants 2022
16
Event-based fundraising averaged $150k per event for mid-sized nonprofits
17
76% of donors research charities online before giving
18
Matching gift programs utilized by only 15% of nonprofits, missing $4-16 billion
Interpretation
Fundraising and Donations Interpretation
The nonprofit sector's landscape is one where digital wallets are wide open, the church collection plate remains surprisingly deep, and every organization is desperately trying to turn a fleeting first date into a committed marriage, all while leaving billions in corporate matchmaking money on the table.
03 · Category
Impact Measurement21 stats
01
U.S. nonprofits delivered services to 150 million people in 2022
02
Nonprofits reduced poverty by providing $200 billion in aid to 40 million households yearly
03
Health nonprofits vaccinated 95 million children globally via partnerships in 2022
04
Education nonprofits boosted graduation rates by 15% in underserved schools 2022
05
Environmental nonprofits conserved 50 million acres of land since 2000
06
Animal nonprofits sheltered 3.1 million pets and facilitated 2.2 million adoptions in 2022
07
Human services nonprofits housed 500,000 homeless individuals annually
08
Arts nonprofits engaged 100 million Americans in cultural programs 2022
09
Disaster relief nonprofits aided 20 million people post-2022 events
10
Youth nonprofits served 25 million kids, improving outcomes by 22% in academics
11
92% of nonprofits track outcomes, but only 55% use them for decisions 2023
12
Nonprofits generated $7in social value per $1 invested, per 2022 SROI analyses
13
Mental health nonprofits reached 50 million via telehealth in 2022
14
Food banks distributed 2 billion meals to 44 million people in 2022
15
Advocacy nonprofits influenced 15 federal policies benefiting 30 million in 2023
16
Senior care nonprofits supported 10 million elderly with home services yearly
17
Literacy programs by nonprofits raised adult literacy rates 12% in target areas
18
Nonprofits cut recidivism by 43% through reentry programs for 200k ex-offenders
19
Global nonprofits eradicated diseases like river blindness in 15 countries
20
Veteran nonprofits provided 1.5 million counseling sessions in 2022
21
Nonprofits recycle 80 million tons of waste annually, reducing landfill by 25%
Interpretation
Impact Measurement Interpretation
While nonprofits are clearly the scaffolding holding up society, the fact that most are better at counting their wins than using them suggests we're celebrating the blueprint instead of building the next floor.
More related reading
04 · Category
Organizational Size and Structure15 stats
01
3.7 million nonprofits registered in the U.S. as of 2023 IRS filings
02
75% of U.S. nonprofits have fewer than 10 paid staff members in 2023
03
Median age of U.S. nonprofits is 22 years, with 40% founded post-2000
04
12% of nonprofits are national in scope, while 88% operate locally, per 2022 data
05
Arts and culture nonprofits number 110,000, representing 9% of total sector
06
Health nonprofits comprise 24% of all U.S. 501(c)(3)s at over 900,000 organizations
07
Education nonprofits total 1.2 million, including schools and universities, in 2023
08
Human services nonprofits make up 32% of the sector with 1.1 million entities
09
Religious congregations number 380,000, 70% of which are independent nonprofits
10
Animal welfare nonprofits total 45,000, with 60% small orgs under $500k revenue
11
Environmental nonprofits number 28,000, focused on conservation and advocacy
12
85% of nonprofits are 501(c)(3) public charities, per IRS 2022 data
13
Median board size for nonprofits is 15 members, with 55% having 10-20 directors
14
22% of nonprofits have chapters or affiliates, averaging 5 per parent org
15
Youth development nonprofits total 65,000, 80% community-based
Interpretation
Organizational Size and Structure Interpretation
America's charitable heart beats primarily in small, local organizations, staffed by dedicated few, with over half the sector focused on direct human needs and community foundations—proving that while a few giants get the headlines, the true heavy lifting of society is done by a vast constellation of neighborhood-sized stars.
05 · Category
Trends and Growth19 stats
01
Nonprofit sector grew 4.2% in 2022, outpacing GDP by 1.5%
02
Post-COVID, 35% of nonprofits adopted AI tools by 2023 for operations
03
DEI initiatives implemented by 82% of nonprofits in 2023, up from 60% in 2020
04
Hybrid events became norm, with 65% of fundraisers virtual/hybrid in 2023
05
Climate focus: 40% of foundations shifted grants to sustainability by 2023
06
Crypto donations to nonprofits hit $2.5 billion in 2022, up 150%
07
50% of nonprofits plan mergers by 2025 due to funding pressures
08
Impact investing by nonprofits grew to $1.1 trillion assets under management 2023
09
Remote volunteering surged 300% since 2020, now 25% of total hours
10
75% of nonprofits using CRM software saw 20% donor growth in 2022
11
Equity audits conducted by 45% of nonprofits in 2023 for operations
12
Subscription models for donations rose 28%, stabilizing revenue for 30% orgs
13
60% of nonprofits prioritize mental health support for staff post-2022
14
Blockchain for transparency adopted by 15% of large nonprofits in 2023
15
Collaborative funding consortia formed by 35% of orgs, sharing 10% costs
16
Gen Z donors increased 55%, giving smaller but more frequent amounts
17
48% of nonprofits forecasting flat or declining budgets for 2024
18
Social media drove 40% of new donors for nonprofits in 2023
19
Pay-what-you-can models expanded to 25% of arts nonprofits by 2023
Interpretation
Trends and Growth Interpretation
Despite the economy’s mood swings, nonprofits are stubbornly thriving, using everything from AI to Gen Z's snack-sized donations to outmaneuver uncertainty with a mix of tech, collaboration, and dogged idealism.
06 · Category
Workforce and Volunteering18 stats
01
U.S. nonprofits employ 12.3 million paid workers, 10% of the workforce in 2022
02
Nonprofits added 1.2 million jobs from 2019-2022, growing 11% faster than for-profits
03
Average nonprofit salary is $52,000annually, 15% below private sector average
04
62 million Americans volunteered for nonprofits in 2022, contributing 4.1 billion hours
05
Volunteers for nonprofits save organizations $193 billion in equivalent wages yearly
06
44% of nonprofit employees are part-time, highest in human services at 52%
07
CEO turnover rate in nonprofits averaged 18% in 2022, up from 14% pre-pandemic
08
70% of nonprofit boards include volunteers who also serve on committees
09
Health nonprofits employ 40% of the sector's workforce at 5 million jobs
10
28% of volunteers are Gen Z, contributing 1.2 billion hours in 2022
11
Nonprofit staff diversity: 42% people of color, 55% women in leadership roles 2023
12
Training budgets for nonprofit staff averaged $1,200per employee in 2022
13
65% of nonprofits rely on volunteers for 25% or more of operations
14
Unionization in nonprofits rose to 12% of workforce in 2023, highest in education
15
Remote work adopted by 58% of nonprofits post-2020, retaining 20% more staff
16
Burnout affected 69% of nonprofit workers in 2022 surveys
17
Average volunteer retention rate is 52%, with top orgs at 75% via recognition
18
Nonprofits provided 80% of social services jobs for underserved communities
Interpretation
Workforce and Volunteering Interpretation
Forget the starving artist stereotype, because while America's nonprofit sector is a compassionate juggernaut providing 80% of social service jobs and fueled by billions of volunteer hours, its dedicated, underpaid, and increasingly burnt-out workforce is itself a vulnerable population in need of sustainable support.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Nonprofit Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Nonprofit Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Nonprofit Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nonprofit-statistics.
Sources & references
76 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level