U.S. CHARITABLE GIVING TOPS $300 BILLION FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Despite economic pressures that impacted individuals, foundations and corporations, U.S. charitable giving in 2009 surpassed $300 billion for the third year in a row.  Giving totaled $303.75 billion, according to Giving USA 2010, the annual report on philanthropy released today by the Giving USA Foundation.  Contributions did decline, as most in the field expected, but the 3.6 percent fall (in current dollars) was considerably less drastic than some had feared.

“Even in a time of enormous economic upheaval, such as we saw in 2009, Americans continued to be generous to charitable causes,” says Campbell & Company chair and CEO Edith H. Falk, who serves as the Giving USA Foundation chair.  “While overall giving declined, many donors—including individuals and foundations -made special efforts in 2009 to respond to greater humanitarian needs and we saw increases in giving to human services, health, environment and animals and international aid.  And, giving as a percentage of GDP remained steady - further testament to the generosity of Americans.”

• Philanthropy constituted 2.1 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product—the thirteenth consecutive year that charitable giving has been higher than 2.0 percent. 

• Giving to the following types of charities increased: human services by 2.3 percent, health by 3.8 percent, environment and animals byt 2.3 percent, and international aid by 6.2 percent.

• Giving to the following types of charities decreased: religion by 0.7 percent, education by 3.6 percent, foundations by 8 percent, public society benefit organizations by 4.6 percent, and arts, culture and humanities by 2.4 percent.

• Religion continued to receive the largest share of contributions in 2009 (33 percent) at $100.35 billion (adjusted for inflation). 

• Individuals remained the largest source of contributions, accounting for 75 percent of all charitable giving in 2009 and almost 90 percent when factoring in family foundation and bequest giving.

• Foundation grant-making decreased by 8.9 percent (in current dollars), according to the Foundation Center.  This is a less severe drop than foundations anticipated when the Foundation Center surveyed them in early 2009.

• Giving from corporations, which includes corporate foundations, rose 5.5 percent.  This unexpected bounce takes corporate giving to within one percent of its pre-recession level.

As we look forward to a potential economic recovery year in 2010, it’s important for organizations to again focus on resuming growth in philanthropic output,” says Peter Fissinger, Campbell & Company President and Giving Institute board member.  “It’s crucial this year to reach out to existing donors in a personal way, spend the proper time cultivating newer donors, commit to meeting with top prospects and be prudent and responsible with your organization’s resources. More than ever, donors want to know the impact of their giving.”

A reminder: if you are interested in learning more about Giving USA 2010, please click here to register for Campbell & Company’s free webinar TODAY AT NOON/CDT.  During the webinar, a panel of national nonprofit leaders will discuss how you can turn the report’s findings into actionable strategies for your fundraising program.

Giving USA’s estimates are based on tax data, government estimates and information from other research institutions.  The report is considered the seminal publication on philanthropy in America and has documented trends in charitable contributions for more than 50 years.  Giving USA 2010 also contains a wealth of in-depth data that gives your organization many useful ways to look at the philanthropic market.  You can compare how your organization’s fundraising stacks up to giving to similar organizations and how trends in giving at all levels may affect your program. 

Visit www.givingusa2010.org to download an executive summary of Giving USA free of charge.  Additionally, a variety of subscription packages and à la carte reports may be ordered by fax, by email or purchased online.  Click here to download an order form or visit www.givingusa2010.org.

Giving USA is a publication of Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.  Campbell & Company is an active member of Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits, which created Giving USA Foundation in 1985.  Peter Fissinger serves on the Institute’s governing board and Edith Falk serves as Chair of the Foundation Board and a member of the editorial review board.  Campbell & Company once again is a proud sponsor of Giving USA.