U.S. charities received an estimated $592.5 billion in donations in 2024, a 3.3% increase when adjusted for inflation from the previous year, according to a new report from Giving USA. The increase is the first real increase in three years and the first time since 2021 that growth in giving outpaced inflation (the year 2021 saw Americans making unprecedented donations due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The annual report, published by Giving USA Foundation in partnership with Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, covers the charitable giving trends for 2024 in the United States.
Breakdown By Donor Type
The report finds that a strong stock market and GDP growth helped fuel the increase in total giving, led by individual and corporate giving. Individual giving, further driven by rising personal income, low unemployment and positive consumer sentiment, totaled $392 billion, comprising two-thirds of all giving. While corporations’ donations amounted to only 7% of overall giving in 2024, corporate giving continues a strong growth pattern, up 6% to $44 billion from the previous year, reflecting the trend of corporations donating a higher share of pretax profits in recent years. Giving by foundations was higher in the past five years, approximately $110 billion in 2024, than in any other period since Giving USA tracked this data. Meanwhile, known to fluctuate yearly, bequests in 2024 declined 4.4% when adjusted for inflation.
By Sector
Seven of nine reported categories saw an increase in giving when adjusted for inflation, with giving to foundations remaining flat and giving to religious organizations slightly dropping. Despite the drop, giving to religious causes remained the top category for donations, receiving $146.54 billion, with human services (that is, food banks and homeless shelters) and education in second and third. Giving in the education sector was fueled largely by major gifts from high-net-worth donors and institutional support. Public-society causes, such as civil rights and advocacy, saw the highest increase in giving out of the categories, with a 16.1% jump from the previous year. Support for international causes rose the second highest, 14.3 %, with a slight dip from the last year due to shifting donor focus from overseas crises. Arts, culture and humanities continue to see a strong rebound post-pandemic, reliant on major donors.
Outlook
The report shows that donor confidence is back, highlighting a shift towards public-interest causes and a pivot towards megagifts. While promising, the glowing report on the state of philanthropic giving from last year might not be entirely reassuring to nonprofits, which in 2025 saw a significant decline in federal funding, increased demand for services and economic uncertainty. “When you’re not sure exactly what’s happening and the news is changing, that sometimes leads to donors just being uncertain and not acting. Uncertainty can dampen giving,” said Una Osili, an associate dean at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
These factors, along with tax policy changes and mounting nonprofit funding pressures, are looming over nonprofits and donors. If passed, the proposed universal charitable deduction of up to $1,000 per taxpayer may increase small and mid-level giving. Charities may need to switch gears to target this group of donors, contrasting with the current system, where charitable deductions mainly benefit higher-income individuals.
Another change to watch is the upcoming sunset of current estate tax provisions, which may lower exemption thresholds, leading to an increase in charitable bequests.
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