Philanthropy Giving USA (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy) · June 23, 2026 · National (U.S.)
Charitable giving passed $600 billion for the first time in 2025 — but a smaller share of income is being given (external link to Giving USA (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy))
Giving USA 2026 estimates total U.S. charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 — up 5.7% in current dollars (3.0% adjusted for inflation) and above $600 billion for the first time. Individuals gave an estimated $394.2 billion (64% of the total), foundations $117.15 billion, and bequest giving rose nearly 20%. Beneath the record: individual giving as a share of disposable personal income has declined to 1.7%, compared with peaks of 2.4% in 2000 and 2005.
Why it matters
For human services organizations weighing diversification away from government funding, the topline record is encouraging but the share-of-income trend is the more important signal: private giving is growing more slowly than donors' capacity, and it remains far smaller than government funding to the sector. Philanthropy can cushion — it cannot simply replace — public funding at scale.
Annual philanthropy research report · Topics: charitable giving, foundations, individual donors · Checked August 19, 2026 · Read the original at Giving USA (Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy) (external link)