Giving By Individuals is Up

“Charitable giving is the lifeblood of more than a million American nonprofits,” said Henry Goldstein, CFRE, chair of the Giving USA Foundation. “Contributions fund research in medicine and the social sciences, endow scholarships, support museums and orchestras, and so much more.”

Estimated charitable giving reached $248.52 billion for 2004, a new record for philanthropic giving in the United States. Individual giving was the single largest source, accounting for $187.92 billion.

In the annual Giving USA survey, 55 percent of responding organizations reported increases in charitable gifts received in 2004 compared with 2003.

About 70 to 80 percent of Americans contribute annually to at least one charity. Being a ‘philanthropist’ does not merely mean making huge gifts; it means giving to any cause that you value.

Source: The Center on Philanthropy, Giving USA survey, 2004