Giving USA 2008 Results Provide In-Depth Analysis
Each year about this time in June I am proud to say I am a part of the Giving Institute and the Giving USA Foundation. You see, through their efforts the entire world is able to view the details of the wonderful tradition we call PHILANTHROPY.
The Giving USA Report for 2008 does reflect the tougher economic conditions in a small manner. However, it is remarkable to see the resiliency the United States has with regard to our giving to charity traditions. The small drop is nowhere near the level many might have expected it to be. In fact, some sectors within the nonprofit world actually had increases. As you might guess, times of need truly bring out the best in so many people. What a neat and wonderful tradition so many of us deeply involved in the NPO world are able to witness daily. Hopefully, we can keep instilling such values in every upcoming generation. (More on that concept in my next blog post...)
In a broad overview manner here is what happened:
2008 Estimates Outlined
Giving USA reports that, adjusted for inflation, total giving was down 5.7 percent, the largest drop recorded since the group has been keeping track of America's charitable donations. However, the estimated giving total exceeded 300 billion for only the 2nd time ever!
Individual giving, which is always the largest component of charitable contributions, was an estimated $229.28 billion, or 75 percent of the total, in 2008. This is a decrease of 2.7 percent compared with 2007 estimates.
Charitable bequests are estimated to be $22.66 billion in 2008, a decrease of 2.8 percent. They make up 7 percent of total giving.
Corporate giving, which is closely tied to corporate profits, is projected to have decreased 4.5 percent, to $14.5 billion. It is estimated to equal 5 percent of all charitable giving.
Foundation grantmaking, according to data from the Foundation Center, was $41.21 billion, an estimated 3 percent increase in current dollars. It is 13 percent of total giving for 2008.
2008 Estimates of Giving by Type of Recipient
Religion: Religious congregations and other religious organizations received an estimated $106.89 billion, which is 35 percent of the total. This is the second year that giving to religion has exceeded $100 billion. Giving to religion increased an estimated 5.5 percent. Religious gifts account for an estimated one-half of all individual giving, not counting gifts made through bequests (5.6 percent) or family foundations (about 3 percent).
Education organizations received an estimated $40.94 billion, or 13 percent of the total. Gifts to this type of organization decreased 5.5 percent.
Foundations received an estimated $32.65 billion, according to calculations by the Foundation Center and Giving USA. The estimate for 2008 is a decrease of 19.2 percent.
Gifts to Health organizations are estimated to be $21.64 billion, or 7 percent of total estimated giving. The decrease in giving to this subsector for 2008 is estimated to be 6.5 percent.
Estimated giving to the Public-Society Benefit subsector was $23.88 billion in 2008, or 8 percent of total estimated giving. The increase is 5.4 percent.
Arts/Culture/Humanities organizations received an estimated $12.79 billion in 2007, or 4 percent of total estimated giving. The decrease is 6.4 percent.
International Affairs organizations, which include relief, direct aid, exchange, and other programs focused on international issues, received an estimated $13.3 billion, or 4 percent of total estimated giving. This is growth of 0.6 percent.
Giving to the Environment/Animals subsector is estimated to be $6.58 billion, or 2 percent of total estimated giving. This estimate reflects a decrease of 5.5 percent.
As always, a picture is worth a thousand words!
