2008 U.S. Charitable Giving Estimated to be $307.65 Billion

"The fact that charitable giving was still more than 2 percent of GDP in 2008 is a bright spot in an otherwise negative climate for donations," said Nancy L. Raybin, chair of Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits, which created Giving USA Foundation in 1985. "The Institute has been active in examining ways to move contributions upward, and it looks like the American public agrees with us that charitable giving is an integral part of the country's economic fabric."