Charitable Trends
Charitable giving in America totaled $307.7 billion in 2008. This amount is equal to about 2.2% of our nation's gross domestic product. This is the highest percentage of giving of any nation in the world, as measured by percentage of the economy and by total dollars. Individuals gave $229.28 billion, with corporations and foundations giving the remainder. This continues a long tradition of generosity that has helped our country provide opportunities for people across a broad economic spectrum.
The Giving USA Foundation issues a detailed annual report on U.S. charitable giving. A useful summary of the basic facts is available at its Web site, www.aafrc.org. The newspaper of record for giving is the weekly Chronicle of Philanthropy. The Chronicle aims primarily at professionals who work in the field of fundraising, but the Web site, www.philanthropy.com, offers interesting feature stories and an excellent search function for topics related to philanthropy.
Two additional print sources for general information: Philanthropy Matters, published twice yearly by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, www.philanthropy.iupui.edu. This magazine is written in accessible language and summarizes useful research. Most content is offered online. Worthwhile, www.worthwhilemag.com, is aimed at younger entrepreneurs interested in building wealth and career success while also creating a strong charitable legacy. The Web site contains much of the material from the magazine.
Major trends and ongoing research in philanthropy can be tracked via the Indiana University center, as well as the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, www.bc.edu/cwp. Look for publications about the upcoming wealth transfer from baby boomers to their children and grandchildren from Paul Schervish, the center's director.
Lastly, informative reading is available from subscription publications. The Economist magazine from February 23, 2006, contains a comprehensive survey of charitable giving worldwide, entitled "The Business of Giving." It includes an analysis of trends and the major players and their motivations, accompanied by The Economist's trademark dry commentary. You will also find an annual report on philanthropy entitled Giving in a special section of The New York Times each November. The Wall Street Journal profiles a different donor every Friday in the Giving Back feature.
Of course, the Program also recommends its newsletters as a source of general information on charitable giving (click here for links to earlier issues).
