Giving Compass' Take:

· According to Giving USA's 2019 report, there has been a 1.7 percent decrease in charitable giving in 2018 compared to 2017 due to a complex climate for donors. 

· What does this shift mean for civil society? How can philanthropists work together to increase giving and the impact of philanthropy?

· Read more about the decline of America's charitable giving.


Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018 is in, and its results may fuel concern for lovers of American civil society.

The survey tactfully describes 2018 as having been “a complex climate for charitable giving,” due to fluctuations in the stock market, the new standard deduction ushered in by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and a host of other factors.

After charitable giving in the United States broke records in 2017, the “complex climate” of 2018 saw a marginal increase in dollars given, with Americans giving a projected $427.71 billion to charity. Adjusted for inflation, however, this represents a 1.7% decrease in charitable giving compared to 2017. This is noteworthy in a year that, for all its complexity, was ultimately economically strong.

Read the full article about America's charitable giving by Elizabeth Winston at Philanthropy Daily.