US Charitable Giving Reaches an All-time High

Americans donated more to charity in this past year than in any prior year. $410.02 billion.

The data from Indiana University showed a 5.2% increase in giving in 2017 over 2016 (3% when adjusted for inflation). And, 70% of that giving was from individuals.

“Giving to nearly all categories of charities experienced significant growth, and giving to foundations achieved a double-digit growth rate,” said Una Osili, Ph.D., associate dean for research and international programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Even in divisive times, or perhaps more so in divisive times, people care.

The Numbers for 2017 Charitable Giving:

• Giving to religion increased 2.9 percent (0.7 percent adjusted for inflation), receiving an estimated $127.37 billion in contributions.
• Giving to education is estimated to have increased 6.2 percent (4.0 percent adjusted for inflation) to $58.90 billion.
• Giving to human services increased by an estimated 5.1 percent (2.9 percent adjusted for inflation) totaling $50.06 billion.
• Giving to foundations is estimated to have increased by 15.5 percent (13.1 percent adjusted for inflation) to $45.89 billion, based on data provided by the Foundation Center.
• Giving to health organizations is estimated to have increased by 7.3 percent (5.1 percent adjusted for inflation) to $38.27 billion.
• Giving to public-society benefit organizations increased an estimated 7.8 percent (5.5 percent adjusted for inflation) to $29.59 billion.
• Giving to arts, culture, and humanities is estimated to have increased 8.7 percent (6.5 percent) to $19.51 billion.
• Giving to international affairs is estimated to have declined 4.4 percent (6.4 percent adjusted for inflation) to $22.97 billion.
• Giving to environment and animal organizations is estimated to have increased 7.2 percent (5.0 percent adjusted for inflation) to $11.83 billion.

From Giving USA 2018: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017, a publication of Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Available online at Giving USA. You can see the data that is available free from the report here. The report was released June of 2018.

The report covers money that has been donated. For those interested in donating your stuff, here’s a directory of where to donate your stuff.

If you’re looking for other ways to give back, here are 103 Random Acts of Kindness ideas.