While the overall giving landscape may show fluctuations, the enduring power of philanthropy is revealed in the astonishing fact that global generosity topped $1.2 trillion in recent years, a testament to humanity's collective drive to make a difference even amidst challenging times.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, total charitable giving in the United States reached $499.33 billion, representing a 3.4 percent decrease from 2021 when adjusted for inflation
- Americans donated $484.85 billion in 2021, a 2.6 percent increase from 2020 adjusted for inflation, driven by individual contributions
- In 2020, U.S. charitable giving surged to $471.44 billion, up 5.2 percent from 2019 adjusted for inflation, fueled by pandemic relief efforts
- Global philanthropic giving amounted to $1.2 trillion in 2021, with a significant portion directed towards health and education sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic
- Worldwide, philanthropy contributed $510 billion in 2015 to development aid, representing 10 percent of official development assistance
- In the UK, total philanthropic giving reached £12.7 billion in 2022, up 8 percent from 2021
- U.S. foundations disbursed $109 billion in 2021, accounting for 15 percent of total giving
- Grantmaking foundations in the U.S. distributed $116.28 billion in 2022 including pass-through grants
- Community foundations assets grew to $127 billion in the U.S. by 2022, disbursing $7.5 billion annually
- Corporate giving in the U.S. totaled $21.08 billion in 2022, up 2.2 percent from 2021, including both cash and non-cash contributions
- Corporate foundations gave $18.84 billion in 2021, 3.9 percent of total U.S. giving, focusing on employee matching
- Corporate volunteerism hours in the U.S. reached 20 million in 2022, valued at $500 million in equivalent donations
- Bequests provided $42.88 billion to U.S. charities in 2022, comprising 8.6 percent of total philanthropy
- Planned giving via bequests averaged $36.4 billion annually from 2017-2021 in the U.S.
- Bequest giving rates increased 12 percent among U.S. seniors over 70 in 2022 surveys
U.S. charitable giving declined in 2022, but remained resilient due to strong individual donations.
Bequests
- Bequests provided $42.88 billion to U.S. charities in 2022, comprising 8.6 percent of total philanthropy
- Planned giving via bequests averaged $36.4 billion annually from 2017-2021 in the U.S.
- Bequest giving rates increased 12 percent among U.S. seniors over 70 in 2022 surveys
- Planned gift annuities produced $1.2 billion in U.S. charitable revenue in 2022
- Charitable lead trusts generated $800 million in U.S. gifts in 2022
- Bequest marketing increased planned gifts by 25 percent for U.S. nonprofits in 2022
Bequests Interpretation
Even in death, Americans prove remarkably generous, collectively willing billions annually from beyond the grave, which suggests we shouldn't just thank living donors but also respectfully remind them that their final act of giving can be their most impactful.
Corporate Giving
- Corporate giving in the U.S. totaled $21.08 billion in 2022, up 2.2 percent from 2021, including both cash and non-cash contributions
- Corporate foundations gave $18.84 billion in 2021, 3.9 percent of total U.S. giving, focusing on employee matching
- Corporate volunteerism hours in the U.S. reached 20 million in 2022, valued at $500 million in equivalent donations
- 72 percent of U.S. companies matched employee gifts in 2022, totaling $2.5 billion in matches
- Tech sector corporate giving hit $10.2 billion in 2022, 48 percent to education
- Corporate non-cash gifts like product donations valued $10 billion in U.S. 2022
- Employee giving programs covered 65 percent of Fortune 500 firms in 2022
- Corporate sponsorships added $5.3 billion to U.S. nonprofit revenues in 2022
- Matching gift redemption rate was 7.5 percent of eligible U.S. employees in 2022
- Tech employees drove 30 percent of corporate giving via matching in 2022
- 90 percent of U.S. companies offered volunteer time off in 2022, averaging 40 hours
Corporate Giving Interpretation
American corporate philanthropy is learning that while it's nice to stroke a check for $21 billion, the real trick is getting your own employees to do the heavy lifting—and then paying them for the privilege twice, once in salary and again in matching donations.
Digital Giving Trends
- Online giving in the U.S. grew 12.9 percent in 2022 to $53.09 billion, driven by digital platforms post-pandemic
- Mobile giving in the U.S. surged 25 percent in 2022 to $12 billion, with text-to-give campaigns leading
- 68 percent of U.S. donors under 40 used digital wallets for giving in 2022
- Recurring monthly donations grew 40 percent in U.S. nonprofits from 2020-2022
- Email fundraising ROI in U.S. nonprofits was $42 per $1 spent in 2022
Digital Giving Trends Interpretation
Americans have clearly decided that generosity is best served digitally, with our phones becoming the new collection plate and our inboxes the most profitable pulpit.
Donor Demographics
- Households earning under $50,000 gave 4.2 percent of income to charity on average in 2021, higher rate than those earning over $100,000 at 3.8 percent
- Women in the U.S. are 23 percent more likely than men to donate to charity regularly, according to 2022 surveys
- Black Americans gave $28 billion to charity in 2022, with 64 percent donating compared to 51 percent of white Americans
- Hispanic Americans donated at rates 15 percent higher than average in 2022 for community causes
- Urban U.S. households gave 2.5 percent of income vs. 3.1 percent in rural areas in 2021
- Asian American giving rates hit 65 percent participation in 2022 U.S. surveys
- 45 percent of U.S. donors cited tax benefits as motivation in 2022 IRS data
- Rural U.S. donors gave higher percentages to faith-based causes at 45 percent in 2022
- Suburban U.S. donors averaged $1,200 annual gifts vs. $900 urban in 2022
- Women-led U.S. households donated 15 percent more than male-led in 2022 data
Donor Demographics Interpretation
While the wealthy may write the bigger checks, the data clearly shows that generosity is a rich tapestry woven from the everyday sacrifices of lower-income earners, the steadfast commitment of women and communities of color, and the profound sense of shared fate that tightens its grip as the city lights fade to rural starlight.
Foundation Giving
- U.S. foundations disbursed $109 billion in 2021, accounting for 15 percent of total giving
- Grantmaking foundations in the U.S. distributed $116.28 billion in 2022 including pass-through grants
- Community foundations assets grew to $127 billion in the U.S. by 2022, disbursing $7.5 billion annually
- Independent foundations granted $53.8 billion in 2021, focusing on equity and justice
- Operating foundations disbursed $6.4 billion in 2022 for direct charitable programs
- Family foundations granted $24 billion in 2021, 22 percent to education
- Grant-seeking foundations success rate was 25 percent for U.S. nonprofits in 2022
- Corporate foundations assets reached $200 billion globally by 2022
- U.S. foundations prioritized climate grants, rising 20 percent to $2.5 billion in 2022
- Community foundation grants rose 12 percent to $8.6 billion in U.S. 2022
- Private foundations approval rates for grants averaged 18 percent in 2022
Foundation Giving Interpretation
Despite the philanthropic sector's impressive financial heft—with billions flowing from foundations of all stripes—nonprofits still face a dauntingly narrow keyhole of opportunity, as even a 20% surge in climate funding doesn't warm the chill of an average 18% approval rate.
Generational Giving
- Millennials donated $125 billion annually in the U.S. by 2022, prioritizing social justice and environmental causes
- Baby Boomers accounted for 41 percent of U.S. charitable dollars in 2021 despite being 21 percent of the population
- Gen Z donors in the U.S. prefer micro-donations via apps, contributing $15 billion collectively in 2022
- Gen X donors contributed $267 billion over five years to 2022, balancing family and legacy giving
- Silent Generation provided 72 percent of bequests in U.S. 2022, averaging $100,000 each
- Boomers planned to increase giving by 10 percent upon retirement per 2022 surveys
- 82 percent of U.S. millennials donated in 2022, averaging $892 per donor
- Gen Z U.S. giving projected to reach $100 billion by 2030
Generational Giving Interpretation
A generational relay race is underway, with the Silent Generation handing off a baton of legacy, Boomers consolidating their lead, Gen X steadily pacing, Millennials surging for change, and Gen Z warming up in the digital blocks, each running their own leg of the philanthropic marathon.
Giving by Cause
- U.S. giving to religion dropped to $132.22 billion in 2022, 26.5 percent of total giving but down 7.3 percent adjusted for inflation
- Education received $65.71 billion in U.S. philanthropy in 2022, 13.2 percent of total, up 4.3 percent year-over-year
- In 2022, U.S. giving to human services rose 10.8 percent to $78.07 billion, boosted by economic recovery funds
- International affairs received $28.78 billion in U.S. donations in 2022, up 7.5 percent amid global crises like Ukraine
- U.S. arts and culture giving fell 13.4 percent in 2022 to $17.10 billion adjusted for inflation due to venue closures
- Environment and animals sector saw U.S. donations increase 8.1 percent to $15.26 billion in 2022
- U.S. giving to public-society benefit organizations hit $45.87 billion in 2022, 9.2 percent of total
- U.S. health organizations received $47.81 billion in 2022, down 2.1 percent adjusted for inflation
- U.S. international giving excluding DAFs fell 4.2 percent in 2022 to $27.5 billion
- U.S. giving to youth and family services reached $24.5 billion in 2022, up 6 percent
- U.S. public broadcasting donations totaled $1.8 billion in 2022, steady post-pandemic
- U.S. animal welfare donations increased 15 percent to $8.2 billion in 2022 amid pet adoption boom
- U.S. higher education endowments received $55 billion in gifts 2018-2022 average
- U.S. disaster relief giving spiked to $10 billion in 2022 for hurricanes and floods
- U.S. hospitals received 60 percent of health giving at $28.7 billion in 2022
- U.S. K-12 education donations totaled $4.2 billion in 2022, up from $3.8 billion
- U.S. giving to mental health causes doubled to $2.1 billion from 2019-2022
Giving by Cause Interpretation
Americans, in a year of shifting priorities, seemed to keep their faith in humanity by pulling funds from the collection plate to instead feed immediate needs, shelter pets, and address global crises, proving that while our spiritual giving may have dipped, our earthly empathy found new and urgent outlets.
Global Total Giving
- Global philanthropic giving amounted to $1.2 trillion in 2021, with a significant portion directed towards health and education sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic
- Worldwide, philanthropy contributed $510 billion in 2015 to development aid, representing 10 percent of official development assistance
- In the UK, total philanthropic giving reached £12.7 billion in 2022, up 8 percent from 2021
- Canadian charitable donations totaled CAD 11.65 billion in 2021, with individuals contributing 78 percent
- Asia-Pacific philanthropy reached $200 billion in 2021, led by China and India family foundations
- European Union private philanthropy contributed €65 billion in 2020 to social causes
- Australia reported AUD 13.3 billion in giving for 2022, with 81 percent household participation
- Brazil's philanthropy sector mobilized BRL 20 billion in 2022 for social development
- India's philanthropy grew 15 percent to INR 2.5 lakh crore in FY2022
- Germany's philanthropy totaled €85 billion in assets by 2022, with 5 percent payout
Global Total Giving Interpretation
Even as global giving soared to a staggering $1.2 trillion, it's clear our generosity is both a powerful global force and a deeply personal local commitment, from the vast family foundations of Asia to the eight in ten Australian households opening their wallets.
High-Net-Worth Giving
- In 2021, the top 50 U.S. donors gave $51 billion, a record high representing 10 percent of all itemized donations
- 55 percent of U.S. high-net-worth individuals increased giving in 2022, focusing on long-term impact investments
- Billionaires donated $200 billion globally from 1994-2022 via 1,000+ pledges
- Top 1 percent of U.S. donors gave 35 percent of total itemized contributions in 2021
- Global high-net-worth philanthropy hit $150 billion in 2022 per UBS report
- Ultra-wealthy U.S. donors (>$1B net worth) gave 4.5 percent of wealth in 2022
High-Net-Worth Giving Interpretation
While the charitable giants are flexing record-breaking muscles and quietly shaping the world, it appears the rest of the giving community is dutifully spotting them from the bench.
Historical Trends
- From 2012 to 2022, U.S. total giving grew by 23.4 percent nominally but only 4.1 percent when adjusted for inflation
- From 2000 to 2022, U.S. inflation-adjusted giving grew at 2.1 percent annually, lagging GDP growth of 2.5 percent
Historical Trends Interpretation
Americans are giving more dollars but buying less generosity, as charitable growth has been lapped by both inflation and the economy's own hustle.
Individual Giving
- Individual giving in the U.S. made up 67 percent of total charitable contributions in 2022, totaling $334.37 billion
- Donor-advised funds (DAFs) granted $49.98 billion in 2022, up 8 percent from prior year in the U.S.
- DAF balances grew to $227.89 billion in 2022, with 50 percent undistributed over two years
- DAF grants to faith groups fell 5 percent in 2022 despite overall growth
Individual Giving Interpretation
America's generosity is still overwhelmingly personal, but a growing pile of tax-advantaged money is sitting on the philanthropic sidelines, quietly deciding its faith needs less and its future more.
US Total Giving
- In 2022, total charitable giving in the United States reached $499.33 billion, representing a 3.4 percent decrease from 2021 when adjusted for inflation
- Americans donated $484.85 billion in 2021, a 2.6 percent increase from 2020 adjusted for inflation, driven by individual contributions
- In 2020, U.S. charitable giving surged to $471.44 billion, up 5.2 percent from 2019 adjusted for inflation, fueled by pandemic relief efforts
US Total Giving Interpretation
While Americans opened their hearts and wallets wider than ever during the pandemic, 2022 saw generosity tighten its belt along with everything else, proving that even philanthropy feels the pinch of inflation.
Volunteer Trends
- Volunteerism equivalent value added $122.9 billion to U.S. economy in 2021
Volunteer Trends Interpretation
That $122.9 billion figure for volunteerism isn't just a feel-good statistic; it's the quiet, unpaid engine room of the American economy, proving that time really is money when it's generously given.
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