Charitable Giving Trending Up, Says New Report from Giving USA

Graphic via Giving USA 2014 report highlights, available for free here 

There’s good news for the nonprofit sector, according to Giving USA’s analysis of 2013 giving. In the U.S. last year, total charitable giving increased by 4.4 percent — to $335.17 billion. Overall, giving has increased for the fourth consecutive year, nearly reaching pre-recession levels.

Seventy two percent of all contributions were made by individual donors, followed by foundations and bequests, at 15 and 8 percent respectively. Corporate contributions, which accounted for 5 percent of the total, declined by almost 2 percent. The decrease was influenced by slowed growth in corporate profits and an increase in in-kind contributions, such as goods and services not involving money, according to the report.

By sector, education experienced the most growth in 2013 — almost 9 percent — due in part to giving increases in higher education and K-12 schools. Public-focused, arts, environmental, animal and health organizations also received a significant boost last year, ranging from 6 to 8.5 percent.

Giving to religion continues its downward trend, related to a drop in church attendance and more giving to religious-oriented nonprofits. International affairs also experienced a slowdown, attributed to fewer disaster-relief contributions and a general shift in donor giving preferences.

Charitable giving is on pace to return to peak levels, and with sustained growth, will match a high point last achieved before the recession. Giving USA is the longest-running annual report about charitable giving in the U.S.