Atlas of Giving Reports 2012 Total Giving to Nonprofits Grew 6.7 Percent

Overall giving was buoyed by economic factors beyond the financial markets. Home sales hit a five year peak in 2012, and home prices appeared to be on the rise as the rate of foreclosures fell. Real GDP also experienced accelerated growth.

Still, Mitchell cites continued high unemployment as a persistent detriment to giving for many Americans, a dynamic which does not impact all charities equally.