Record fall in US giving levels

Fundraising | 15 Jul 2009

Giving levels in the US have dropped by the largest amount on record, but remain higher than some pessimistic predictions.

The latest Giving USA report, released last month, showed a 2 per cent decline in giving levels – 5.7 per cent when inflation is taken into account – the largest drop in donations since records began in 1987.

The estimated total value of donations to charitable organisations in the US stood at $307.65bn last year, down $6.42bn from the year before. Last year's Giving USA report showed a record increase in giving levels in the country.

But the drop has been less dramatic than many predicted. “There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that charitable giving would be down,” said US Giving Foundation chair Del Martin.

“What we find remarkable is that individuals, corporations and foundations still provided more than £307bn, despite the economic conditions.”

Corporate donations saw the largest decline, 8 per cent inflation-adjusted, while income from legacies and individual donations fell by around an inflation-adjusted 6 per cent each.

Giving to foundations and human services organisations dropped by the greatest amount, 19.2 per cent and 12.7 per cent respectively, while religious charities saw a 5.5 per cent increase in giving (not adjusted for inflation).

The report was produced for the Giving USA Foundation by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

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