Charitable Giving Hit Record $390 Billion for 2016 Mark Hrywna - The Nonprofit Times
go to original June 21, 2017

Giving in the United States set a record for the third consecutive year, topping $390 billion for 2016. Giving was up 2.7 percent and increases were reported in all major categories of nonprofits for only the sixth time in 40 years.

According to preliminary estimates released today in “Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2016,” giving increased 1.4 percent to $390.05 billion from the revised estimate of $379.89 billion for total giving in 2015 when 2015 was adjusted for inflation. Except for 2013, when giving was flat, charitable contributions have increased every year since 2010.

Giving again was led by individuals, who accounted for $281.86 billion, or 72 percent of overall philanthropy in 2016. Giving by individuals rose 3.9 percent, 2.6 percent adjusted for inflation. Itemized giving comprised almost 82 percent of the estimate for giving by individuals, about the same proportion as the previous year. Giving by both itemizing and non-itemizing households was up by 4 and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Initial estimates a year ago had giving pegged at $373.25 billion for 2015, up 4.1 percent compared to 2014. That total was revised to $379.89 billion and will be revised one more time, in next year’s report. Estimates for 2016 are in current dollars but data for every year prior are adjusted for inflation, which affects the percentage growth because that’s based on the difference between 2016 and 2015 giving, and 2015 giving is changed by the adjustment for inflation.

Charitable giving by individuals, foundations and corporations all increased last year while gifts from estates dropped significantly. Overall giving has remained above 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 2012, including last year at 2.1 percent for the third consecutive year.

... Among recipients, giving during 2016 was led by environment and animal organizations:

• Environment and animal organizations, up 7.2 percent (5.8 percent adjusted for inflation), to $11.05 billion;

• Arts, culture, and humanities, up 6.4 percent (5.1 percent), $18.21 billion;

• International affairs, up 5.8 percent (4.6 percent), $22.03 billion;

• Health organizations, up 5.7 percent (4.4 percent), $33.14 billion;

• Public-society benefit organizations, up 3.7 percent (2.5 percent), $29.89 billion;

• Education, up 3.6 percent (2.3 percent), $59.77 billion;

• Human services, up 4 percent (2.7 percent), $46.80 billion;

• Foundations, up 3.1 percent (1.8 percent), $40.56 billion; and,

• Religion, up 3 percent (1.8 percent), $122.94 billion.

Read the rest at The Nonprofit Times

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