Tuesday, June 8, 2010

US Giving Down 3.6% in 2009; 2nd Year of a Drop

For the second year in a row charitable giving in the USA has declined.

That matters could have been worse - and indeed that many of us in the field expected far worse - may be of some consolation. Furthermore though there is nothing but the anecdotal to go by 2010 seems to be headed north though stock market conniptions remain a continuing worry - especially in New York City and immediate environs - that account for an estimated 25-30 % of the philanthropic "handle."

Giving USA Foundation(TM) and our research partner, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said that estimated total charitable contributions from American individuals, corporations and foundations fell to $303.75 billion in 2009, down from a revised total of $315.08 billion for 2008. The 2009 drop represents a fall of 3.6 percent in current dollars.

Giving USA
has reported U.S. charitable contributions since 1956. The inflation-adjusted drop of
3.2 percent for 2009 is not as severe as the decline found in 1974, when inflation-adjusted giving fell by 5.5 percent. The year 1974 was also a very difficult year of recession.

The national results from Giving USA reflect all charitable giving to all charitable organizations in the United States. The national estimates do not show changes that any one organization or any one geographical region or city might have observed; they calculate total giving by more than 75 million households across the United States, more than 1 million companies, an estimated 120,000 estates, and about 77,000 foundations. The gifts go to more than1.2 million IRS-registered charities and an estimated additional 350,000 American religious congregations.

A free executive summary of the 2010 report is available at Givingusa2010.org. If you would like the full version in PDF post a comment.


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