Findings from Giving USA, the annual report on philanthropy in the United States researched and released each year by the Giving USA Foundation™ and its research partner, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University today, were announced today for the year 2009.
The top finding was 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. In 2009 the overall economy saw slight price deflation, which makes the adjusted change in giving year-over-year a decline of 3.2 percent.
While a fall in total giving may be disheartening news to some, 2009 did represent the third year that giving exceeded $300 billion. And amid a year notorious for economic trouble and job loss, the level of giving could have been much lower. But, it seems, people responded to a perceived increase in need among social services organizations.
You can read the entire Giving USA release and more key findings at our website.
If you are in the Kansas City area, or just interested in local perspective on giving in 2009, the Kansas City Star interviewed JBA’s Jennifer Furla and other area nonprofit leaders for a local angle on the the report, which was officially released today.
The full report is available for purchase at GivingUSA2010.org
Tags: 2009, Giving USA, statistics