Giving USA 2025: Charitable Giving Reaches Historic $592.5 Billion in 2024

Charitable giving in the United States reached a historic milestone in 2024, totaling an estimated $592.5 billion, according to the latest Giving USA 2025 report released on June 24. This represents a 6.3% increase in current dollars (3.3% adjusted for inflation) and serves as a powerful reminder of the nation’s ongoing generosity. But behind the headline lies a more complex picture. While stock market gains and large contributions from wealthy donors fueled the surge, many nonprofits continue to grapple with rising operational costs, shrinking budgets, and a polarized political landscape. In this post, we’ll explore the most important 2024 charitable giving trends and what they mean for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders navigating an evolving philanthropic environment.

Giving reached a record in current dollars and still grew after adjusting for inflation (+3.3%). However, 2021 remains the highest year of giving when adjusted for inflation, meaning giving in 2024 did not exceed that previous peak in real terms.

When adjusted, 2021 remains the strongest year of giving on record.

And giving by individuals, though still the majority, continues to shrink as a share of overall giving.

At Lindsay Simonds Consulting (LSC), this report—and the powerful conversation shared by our peers at Giving USA and CCS—felt more like a rallying cry than a celebration. Yes, generosity is alive. But the number of households that give is declining, and many donors say they feel overlooked or hit up too often without meaningful connection. So we’re asking the question: how do we turn historic generosity into real impact?

What We’re Seeing at LSC in 2025

We’re in a tale-of-two-sectors moment. Some nonprofits are thriving—driven by clear plans, bold asks, and trusted relationships. Others are struggling under the weight of operational freezes, fundraising gaps, and board disengagement.

In this moment, we’re helping clients:

• Build Resilience through strategic fundraising plans, scenario modeling, and campaign readiness work
• Activate Relationships with major donor strategy, board training, and personalized stewardship plans
• Unlock Dormant Capital like donor-advised funds and underused networks
• Strengthen Internal Capacity by stepping in as interim development leaders, campaign directors, or planning partners

We believe your fundraising approach can’t be “set it and forget it.” With attention spans short and tech saturation high, systems must help you stay in context with donors. That means calendars, communications plans, and process—not chaos. Fundraising is a long game of relationship-building. It’s time we act like it.

Key Takeaways from Giving USA 2025

1. Giving Grew Across Most Donor Types

• Individuals: $392.45B (+8.2% current / +5.1% adjusted)
• Corporations: $44.40B (+9.1% / +6.0%)—a record high
• Foundations: $109.81B (+2.4% / flat when adjusted)
• Bequests: Down 1.6% (-4.4% adjusted)

“The role of the individual donor cannot be overstated… they continue to play a central role in our nation’s philanthropic sector.”
— Amir Pasic, Dean, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

2. Sector-Wide Growth in Giving

Every major nonprofit subsector grew in current dollars, and seven of nine kept that growth even after inflation. Top subsectors by inflation-adjusted growth:

• Education: $88.32B (+13.2% / +9.9%)
• Arts, Culture, Humanities: $25.13B (+9.5% / +6.4%)
• Environment/Animals: $21.57B (+7.7% / +4.6%)
• Public-Society Benefit: $66.84B (+19.5% / +16.1%)
• International Affairs: $35.54B (+17.7% / +14.3%)

“This growth demonstrates robust donor support for a myriad of causes.”
— Gabe Cooper, Vice Chair, Giving USA Foundation

3. Economic Confidence Fueled Giving

A strong stock market, rising personal income, and solid GDP growth all supported the uptick.

“People give when they feel financially and economically secure—and that occurred in 2024.”
— Una Osili, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy

What Nonprofits Should Do Now

🎯 Focus on Individual Giving
Even as total giving grew, the donor pool is narrowing. Invest in meaningful, contextual stewardship strategies—not one-size-fits-all touchpoints.

📊 Diversify Revenue Streams
Explore planned giving, grant diversification, and DAF outreach. About $230 billion is currently parked in DAFs, waiting for activation.

🌐 Use Tech, But Lead with People
Fundraising tech tools are powerful—but not a replacement for trust and timing. Use tech to enhance relationships, not replace them.

🏢 Build Corporate Partnerships
With corporate giving at a record high, align your mission with companies’ impact goals for long-term partnership, not just check-writing.

A Final Word

This year’s report reinforces what we at LSC know to be true: philanthropy is shifting, not shrinking. The job ahead is to meet the moment—with strategy, with courage, and with humanity.

We’re proud to walk alongside nonprofits doing just that.

Contact us for more information: info@lindsaysimondsconsulting.com

📘 Source: Giving USA 2025: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2024, researched by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and published by Giving USA Foundation.
🔗 Read more at GivingUSA.org

About Giving USA Foundation™

The Giving USA Foundation was established in 1985 by The Giving Institute. Today, the Giving Institute continues to provide financial support, expertise, and volunteer leadership to the Foundation and works in partnership with it to advance the field of generosity and to promote community excellence, and diversity and inclusion in the field.

For more than 65 years, Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy in America has provided comprehensive charitable giving data that are relied on by donors, fundraisers, and nonprofit leaders. The research in this annual report estimates all giving to charitable organizations across the United States. Giving USA is a public outreach initiative of Giving USA Foundation and is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IU Indianapolis. Giving USA Foundation, established in 1985 by The Giving Institute, endeavors to advance philanthropy through research and education. Explore Giving USA products and resources at www.givingusa.org.

About The Giving Institute

The Giving Institute, the parent organization of Giving USA Foundation, consists of member organizations that have embraced and embodied the core values of ethics, excellence, and leadership in advancing philanthropy. Serving clients of every size and purpose, from local institutions to international organizations, The Giving Institute member organizations embrace the highest ethical standards and maintain a strict code of fair practices. For information on selecting fundraising counsel, visit www.givinginstitute.org.