GITNUXREPORT 2026

Philanthropy Statistics

Despite an overall decline, foundation giving surged to a record high in 2022.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Global charitable giving totaled $1.2 trillion in 2022 per estimates.

Statistic 2

World Giving Index score average: 40.3% in 2023.

Statistic 3

Indonesia topped World Giving Index 2023 with 91% helping stranger.

Statistic 4

Kenya ranked 2nd globally, 85% donated money past month.

Statistic 5

Nigeria: 80% helped stranger in 2023 WGI.

Statistic 6

Global volunteering rate: 12.8% in 2023.

Statistic 7

1 in 3 people globally donated in past month 2023.

Statistic 8

China WGI score rose 11 places to 15th in 2023.

Statistic 9

UK giving: £11.3 billion in 2022/23.

Statistic 10

Global foundations assets: $1.3 trillion in 2022.

Statistic 11

International philanthropy to developing countries: $58B in 2020.

Statistic 12

Remittances to low/middle-income countries: $626B in 2022.

Statistic 13

Global crowdfunding for charity: $1.4B in 2022.

Statistic 14

Europe's philanthropic giving: €138B in 2021.

Statistic 15

Asia-Pacific high-net-worth giving: $25B in 2022.

Statistic 16

Middle East philanthropy: $6.5B from HNWIs in 2021.

Statistic 17

Africa private philanthropy: $8.9B annually estimated.

Statistic 18

Global impact investing assets: $1.164 trillion in 2022.

Statistic 19

74 countries in World Giving Index 2023.

Statistic 20

Global youth giving (18-24): 28% donated 2023.

Statistic 21

Women globally 10% more likely to donate than men.

Statistic 22

Global org donations via PayPal: $10B since 2019.

Statistic 23

42% global score decline in helping strangers post-COVID.

Statistic 24

Latin America avg WGI score: 35% in 2023.

Statistic 25

Global private foundation giving: $110B in 2021.

Statistic 26

Bill Gates pledged $20B to health sector 2022-2026.

Statistic 27

MacKenzie Scott donated $2.7B in 2023 to 300+ orgs.

Statistic 28

Michael Bloomberg gave $1.66B in 2022, mostly politics.

Statistic 29

Warren Buffett lifetime giving: $51B to Gates Foundation.

Statistic 30

George Soros Open Society: $32B endowed total.

Statistic 31

Phil Knight (Nike) $2B to UO in 2022.

Statistic 32

Elon Musk donated Tesla shares worth $5.7B to charity 2021.

Statistic 33

Azim Premji gave $21B lifetime, India top donor.

Statistic 34

Jack Ma/ Alibaba founded $15B rural teacher fund.

Statistic 35

Mukesh Ambani Reliance Foundation: $1B+ yearly.

Statistic 36

Dustin Moskovitz gave $200M to top charities 2022.

Statistic 37

Pierre Omidyar $500M to Ukraine 2022.

Statistic 38

Laurene Powell Jobs $500M to climate 2022.

Statistic 39

Sergey Brin/Anne Wojcicki $1B to Parkinson's.

Statistic 40

Reed Hastings $1.1B Netflix stock to education.

Statistic 41

Melanie Perkins/Steve Garland Canva $275M to education.

Statistic 42

John Doerr $1.3B to climate/Stanford.

Statistic 43

Charles Koch Foundation $500M+ yearly avg.

Statistic 44

Walton Family Foundation $1B+ annually.

Statistic 45

Ford Foundation $1B grants 2022.

Statistic 46

Gordon Moore $5B endowed to conservation.

Statistic 47

U.S. giving to education: 14% of total in 2022 ($71B).

Statistic 48

Religion sector: 26% of U.S. giving ($132B) 2022.

Statistic 49

Health giving U.S.: 9% share ($44B) 2022.

Statistic 50

Human services: 15% of U.S. donations ($77B) 2022.

Statistic 51

Global health philanthropy: $10B annually to vaccines.

Statistic 52

Education philanthropy global: 20% of foundation giving.

Statistic 53

Environment sector U.S. giving up 10.7% to $9B 2022.

Statistic 54

Arts/culture U.S.: 4% ($19B) of giving 2022.

Statistic 55

International affairs U.S. giving: 2% ($10B) 2022.

Statistic 56

Public-society benefit: 9% U.S. ($46B) 2022.

Statistic 57

Animal welfare global donations: $5B yearly est.

Statistic 58

Poverty alleviation: 25% of global giving.

Statistic 59

Disaster relief spikes: 300% post-event avg.

Statistic 60

Mental health philanthropy U.S.: $1.5B in 2022.

Statistic 61

Climate change giving global: $8.1B in 2021.

Statistic 62

Higher ed U.S. got 60% of education giving ($43B).

Statistic 63

K-12 education U.S.: $6B in 2022.

Statistic 64

Global hunger relief: $20B private aid yearly.

Statistic 65

Youth/sports sector U.S.: 1% of giving.

Statistic 66

35% global foundation giving to social welfare.

Statistic 67

Medical research U.S.: $12B philanthropy 2022.

Statistic 68

Housing/homeless U.S.: part of human services $77B.

Statistic 69

Civil rights/advocacy U.S.: $4B est. 2022.

Statistic 70

Animal orgs global: 2-3% of total philanthropy.

Statistic 71

Tech for good sector: $500M VC philanthropy hybrid.

Statistic 72

U.S. individual giving grew 2% to $370B in 2022.

Statistic 73

Global giving stagnated post-COVID, -1% growth 2022.

Statistic 74

Online giving up 12% globally 2022-2023.

Statistic 75

DAF assets U.S. $234B end 2022, up 5%.

Statistic 76

ESG investing philanthropy hybrid grew 20% to $1.2T.

Statistic 77

Cryptocurrency donations U.S.: $2.5B since 2017.

Statistic 78

Monthly recurring donations up 40% post-pandemic.

Statistic 79

U.S. giving to religion down 25% since 2000 peak.

Statistic 80

Foundation giving share doubled since 2000 to 38%.

Statistic 81

Gen Z volunteering up 15% 2020-2022.

Statistic 82

Corporate giving up 4.1% inflation-adjusted 2022.

Statistic 83

Impact measurement adoption: 70% foundations 2023.

Statistic 84

Global HNW giving % income: 1.6% avg 2022.

Statistic 85

U.S. boomer giving peak, down 10% 2022.

Statistic 86

Mobile giving: 30% of donations under $100.

Statistic 87

Volunteerism global down 5% since 2019.

Statistic 88

AI in philanthropy: 25% orgs using 2023.

Statistic 89

Megadonors under 40 up 50% decade.

Statistic 90

Cash donations down 20%, stock up 30% U.S. 2022.

Statistic 91

DEI giving U.S.: $16B since 2020.

Statistic 92

In 2022, total U.S. charitable giving reached $499.33 billion, a 3.4% decline from 2021 after inflation adjustment.

Statistic 93

Giving by individuals in the U.S. totaled $369.58 billion in 2022, representing 74% of total giving.

Statistic 94

Foundation giving in the U.S. hit a record $188.05 billion in 2022, up 7.5% from 2021.

Statistic 95

Bequests accounted for $42.88 billion in U.S. giving in 2022, a 7.9% increase year-over-year.

Statistic 96

Corporate giving in the U.S. was $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% from prior year.

Statistic 97

Religion received $132.22 billion in U.S. donations in 2022, 26.4% of total giving.

Statistic 98

Human services got $76.58 billion in 2022 U.S. giving, 15.5% share.

Statistic 99

Education donations in U.S. totaled $71.22 billion in 2022.

Statistic 100

Foundations surged to 38% of U.S. total giving in 2022.

Statistic 101

U.S. giving as percentage of GDP was 1.97% in 2022.

Statistic 102

In 2021, U.S. giving hit $484.87 billion record.

Statistic 103

Itemized deductions for charity by U.S. taxpayers fell to 24.2 million in 2021.

Statistic 104

U.S. megagifts over $100M numbered 66 in 2022.

Statistic 105

Average U.S. household donation was $3,306 in 2022.

Statistic 106

50% of U.S. adults donated to charity in 2022.

Statistic 107

Boomers gave 60% of U.S. itemized charitable dollars in 2021.

Statistic 108

U.S. online giving grew 3.7% to $57.7B in 2022.

Statistic 109

69% of U.S. donors give via mobile in 2023.

Statistic 110

U.S. giving to international affairs rose 8.3% in 2022.

Statistic 111

Arts/culture received $19.02B in U.S. 2022.

Statistic 112

Environment/animals got $9.45B U.S. donations 2022.

Statistic 113

Health orgs received $44.12B in U.S. 2022.

Statistic 114

Public-society benefit orgs: $45.79B U.S. 2022.

Statistic 115

U.S. donors under 30: 31% donated in 2022.

Statistic 116

Gen Z U.S. giving rate: 52% in past month 2022.

Statistic 117

U.S. volunteer rate: 23.2% of population in 2022.

Statistic 118

Corporate matching gifts in U.S.: $2B annually avg.

Statistic 119

65% of Fortune 500 cos have matching programs.

Statistic 120

U.S. DAF grants reached $49.68B in 2022.

Statistic 121

Number of U.S. DAF accounts: 1,180,000 in 2022.

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As charitable giving experienced a surprising dip last year, the landscape of American philanthropy reveals a powerful counter-narrative where foundations and major bequests surged to record highs, reshaping who gives and how much.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, total U.S. charitable giving reached $499.33 billion, a 3.4% decline from 2021 after inflation adjustment.
Giving by individuals in the U.S. totaled $369.58 billion in 2022, representing 74% of total giving.
Foundation giving in the U.S. hit a record $188.05 billion in 2022, up 7.5% from 2021.
Global charitable giving totaled $1.2 trillion in 2022 per estimates.
World Giving Index score average: 40.3% in 2023.
Indonesia topped World Giving Index 2023 with 91% helping stranger.
U.S. giving to education: 14% of total in 2022 ($71B).
Religion sector: 26% of U.S. giving ($132B) 2022.
Health giving U.S.: 9% share ($44B) 2022.
Bill Gates pledged $20B to health sector 2022-2026.
MacKenzie Scott donated $2.7B in 2023 to 300+ orgs.
Michael Bloomberg gave $1.66B in 2022, mostly politics.
U.S. individual giving grew 2% to $370B in 2022.
Global giving stagnated post-COVID, -1% growth 2022.
Online giving up 12% globally 2022-2023.

Despite an overall decline, foundation giving surged to a record high in 2022.

Global Philanthropy

Global charitable giving totaled $1.2 trillion in 2022 per estimates.
World Giving Index score average: 40.3% in 2023.
Indonesia topped World Giving Index 2023 with 91% helping stranger.
Kenya ranked 2nd globally, 85% donated money past month.
Nigeria: 80% helped stranger in 2023 WGI.
Global volunteering rate: 12.8% in 2023.
1 in 3 people globally donated in past month 2023.
China WGI score rose 11 places to 15th in 2023.
UK giving: £11.3 billion in 2022/23.
Global foundations assets: $1.3 trillion in 2022.
International philanthropy to developing countries: $58B in 2020.
Remittances to low/middle-income countries: $626B in 2022.
Global crowdfunding for charity: $1.4B in 2022.
Europe's philanthropic giving: €138B in 2021.
Asia-Pacific high-net-worth giving: $25B in 2022.
Middle East philanthropy: $6.5B from HNWIs in 2021.
Africa private philanthropy: $8.9B annually estimated.
Global impact investing assets: $1.164 trillion in 2022.
74 countries in World Giving Index 2023.
Global youth giving (18-24): 28% donated 2023.
Women globally 10% more likely to donate than men.
Global org donations via PayPal: $10B since 2019.
42% global score decline in helping strangers post-COVID.
Latin America avg WGI score: 35% in 2023.
Global private foundation giving: $110B in 2021.

Global Philanthropy Interpretation

While humanity’s charitable impulse remains an economic powerhouse at $1.2 trillion, the true, bustling engine of global generosity is not found in foundations or billionaire pledges, but in the daily, mundane kindness of billions of ordinary people, especially in the Global South, where helping a stranger is as common as breathing, proving that altruism is alive, well, and surprisingly democratic.

Major Donors

Bill Gates pledged $20B to health sector 2022-2026.
MacKenzie Scott donated $2.7B in 2023 to 300+ orgs.
Michael Bloomberg gave $1.66B in 2022, mostly politics.
Warren Buffett lifetime giving: $51B to Gates Foundation.
George Soros Open Society: $32B endowed total.
Phil Knight (Nike) $2B to UO in 2022.
Elon Musk donated Tesla shares worth $5.7B to charity 2021.
Azim Premji gave $21B lifetime, India top donor.
Jack Ma/ Alibaba founded $15B rural teacher fund.
Mukesh Ambani Reliance Foundation: $1B+ yearly.
Dustin Moskovitz gave $200M to top charities 2022.
Pierre Omidyar $500M to Ukraine 2022.
Laurene Powell Jobs $500M to climate 2022.
Sergey Brin/Anne Wojcicki $1B to Parkinson's.
Reed Hastings $1.1B Netflix stock to education.
Melanie Perkins/Steve Garland Canva $275M to education.
John Doerr $1.3B to climate/Stanford.
Charles Koch Foundation $500M+ yearly avg.
Walton Family Foundation $1B+ annually.
Ford Foundation $1B grants 2022.
Gordon Moore $5B endowed to conservation.

Major Donors Interpretation

Taken together, these pledges reveal a dynamic, sometimes competitive philanthropic landscape where a handful of individuals wield financial influence comparable to nations, yet often with the speed and focus of a startup.

Sector Breakdown

U.S. giving to education: 14% of total in 2022 ($71B).
Religion sector: 26% of U.S. giving ($132B) 2022.
Health giving U.S.: 9% share ($44B) 2022.
Human services: 15% of U.S. donations ($77B) 2022.
Global health philanthropy: $10B annually to vaccines.
Education philanthropy global: 20% of foundation giving.
Environment sector U.S. giving up 10.7% to $9B 2022.
Arts/culture U.S.: 4% ($19B) of giving 2022.
International affairs U.S. giving: 2% ($10B) 2022.
Public-society benefit: 9% U.S. ($46B) 2022.
Animal welfare global donations: $5B yearly est.
Poverty alleviation: 25% of global giving.
Disaster relief spikes: 300% post-event avg.
Mental health philanthropy U.S.: $1.5B in 2022.
Climate change giving global: $8.1B in 2021.
Higher ed U.S. got 60% of education giving ($43B).
K-12 education U.S.: $6B in 2022.
Global hunger relief: $20B private aid yearly.
Youth/sports sector U.S.: 1% of giving.
35% global foundation giving to social welfare.
Medical research U.S.: $12B philanthropy 2022.
Housing/homeless U.S.: part of human services $77B.
Civil rights/advocacy U.S.: $4B est. 2022.
Animal orgs global: 2-3% of total philanthropy.
Tech for good sector: $500M VC philanthropy hybrid.

Sector Breakdown Interpretation

Americans, in their charitable giving, seem to be investing heavily in the hereafter, with 26% to religion, while cautiously hedging their bets on the here and now, allocating 14% to education and 9% to health.

Trends and Growth

U.S. individual giving grew 2% to $370B in 2022.
Global giving stagnated post-COVID, -1% growth 2022.
Online giving up 12% globally 2022-2023.
DAF assets U.S. $234B end 2022, up 5%.
ESG investing philanthropy hybrid grew 20% to $1.2T.
Cryptocurrency donations U.S.: $2.5B since 2017.
Monthly recurring donations up 40% post-pandemic.
U.S. giving to religion down 25% since 2000 peak.
Foundation giving share doubled since 2000 to 38%.
Gen Z volunteering up 15% 2020-2022.
Corporate giving up 4.1% inflation-adjusted 2022.
Impact measurement adoption: 70% foundations 2023.
Global HNW giving % income: 1.6% avg 2022.
U.S. boomer giving peak, down 10% 2022.
Mobile giving: 30% of donations under $100.
Volunteerism global down 5% since 2019.
AI in philanthropy: 25% orgs using 2023.
Megadonors under 40 up 50% decade.
Cash donations down 20%, stock up 30% U.S. 2022.
DEI giving U.S.: $16B since 2020.

Trends and Growth Interpretation

The data paints a picture of a philanthropic landscape in energetic, if sometimes awkward, transition, where global generosity falters while new tools and younger ambitions—from ESG to DAFs to Gen Z volunteers—reshape the very meaning and mechanics of giving.

U.S. Philanthropy

In 2022, total U.S. charitable giving reached $499.33 billion, a 3.4% decline from 2021 after inflation adjustment.
Giving by individuals in the U.S. totaled $369.58 billion in 2022, representing 74% of total giving.
Foundation giving in the U.S. hit a record $188.05 billion in 2022, up 7.5% from 2021.
Bequests accounted for $42.88 billion in U.S. giving in 2022, a 7.9% increase year-over-year.
Corporate giving in the U.S. was $29.48 billion in 2022, up 3.4% from prior year.
Religion received $132.22 billion in U.S. donations in 2022, 26.4% of total giving.
Human services got $76.58 billion in 2022 U.S. giving, 15.5% share.
Education donations in U.S. totaled $71.22 billion in 2022.
Foundations surged to 38% of U.S. total giving in 2022.
U.S. giving as percentage of GDP was 1.97% in 2022.
In 2021, U.S. giving hit $484.87 billion record.
Itemized deductions for charity by U.S. taxpayers fell to 24.2 million in 2021.
U.S. megagifts over $100M numbered 66 in 2022.
Average U.S. household donation was $3,306 in 2022.
50% of U.S. adults donated to charity in 2022.
Boomers gave 60% of U.S. itemized charitable dollars in 2021.
U.S. online giving grew 3.7% to $57.7B in 2022.
69% of U.S. donors give via mobile in 2023.
U.S. giving to international affairs rose 8.3% in 2022.
Arts/culture received $19.02B in U.S. 2022.
Environment/animals got $9.45B U.S. donations 2022.
Health orgs received $44.12B in U.S. 2022.
Public-society benefit orgs: $45.79B U.S. 2022.
U.S. donors under 30: 31% donated in 2022.
Gen Z U.S. giving rate: 52% in past month 2022.
U.S. volunteer rate: 23.2% of population in 2022.
Corporate matching gifts in U.S.: $2B annually avg.
65% of Fortune 500 cos have matching programs.
U.S. DAF grants reached $49.68B in 2022.
Number of U.S. DAF accounts: 1,180,000 in 2022.

U.S. Philanthropy Interpretation

The charitable heart of America still beats strong, with foundations and bequests picking up the slack as individual giving tightened its belt, proving that generosity evolves faster than a Boomer's checkbook in a digital age.

Sources & References

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