Giving USA Foundation

Historic philanthropy patterns of America’s affluent donors are giving way to a more complex and disparate population that represents our country’s patchwork communities. The systematic and predictable giving methods by the rich no longer dominate our donor bases. Diverse communities are emerging with new giving patterns and objectives.

How much will Americans end up donating to the Haitian earthquake relief efforts? If past disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami provide guidance for today’s efforts, the result is likely to be in the billions.

STANFORD, Calif., August 25, 2009 — Charities and nonprofits are suffering as much as commercial businesses from the economic downturn. Donations at two-thirds of public charities declined between 2007 and 2008, according to the Giving USA Foundation. This represents the first decrease in donations in current dollars since 1987, and only the second in year-by-year giving slump since the organization began publishing its annual reports 52 years ago.

GLENVIEW, Ill., June 10, 2009 — Charitable giving in the United States exceeded $300 billion for the second year in a row in 2008, according to Giving USA 2009. Donations to charitable causes in the United States reached an estimated $307.65 billion in 2008, a 2 percent drop in current dollars over 2007.

CHICAGO, MAY 21, 2009 — Campbell & Company, a national consulting firm that provides advancement planning, fundraising, marketing communications and talent management to nonprofit organizations, presents a Webinar titled, “First Look: Giving USA 2009, Changing Data Into Action” on June 11, 2009 at noon CDT. Registration for this webinar is free. Attendees can join others from across the country from their desk or conference room.

April 28, 2009, Partnership For Philanthropic Planning — As a public service to the nonprofit sector, the Center on Philanthropy is offering a special bulletin: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Act Appropriation Beneficial to the Nonprofit Sector and Key Resources for Organizations to Approach and Access Funding Sources. Written and researched by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University--and published in conjunction with Giving USA Foundation--the Bulletin provides timely information on how charitable and philanthropic organizations can apply for funding through the Act, also known as the stimulus package. The Bulletin contains hotlinks to numerous sites and resources.

House Republican Leader John Boehner calls President Barack Obama’s proposal to limit high earners’ charitable tax deductions a “sharp blow to charities at a time when they are hurting during the economic downturn.”