Charitable Giving Facts

Learn the facts about charitable giving and how generous givers can make a difference with their contributions.

Charitable Giving Facts
Charitable Giving FactsGet the facts about charitable giving.
  • More than 92 percent of Americans participate at some level of charitable giving.
  • In 1970, wealthy nations agreed to a goal of spending 0.7 percent of their gross national product on assistance to developing countries. Through 2007, the amount of aid has been around 0.2 to 0.4 percent.
  • Low-income working families are the most generous group in America, giving away about 4.5 percent of their income on average, compared with about 2.5 percent among the middle class, and 3 percent among high-income families.
  • Top five reasons why people give:

    1. Because they are asked to or are presented a giving opportunity.
    2. Compassion for those in need.
    3. Personally believe in the cause
    4. Affected by the cause
    5. To give back to their community

  • Total giving to charitable organizations increased to $306 billion in 2007, up 3.9 percent from 2006 (when adjusted for inflation). That accounted for 2.2 percent of U.S. domestic product.
  • Thirty-two percent of U.S. adults have less than positive feelings toward America's charitable organizations. And only one in 10 strongly agrees that charitable organizations are honest and ethical in their use of donated funds.
  • Younger donors are more likely to respond positively to messages that focus on the global impact of an organization's work, while older donors are more likely to give to groups that highlight services they provide that the government does not.