Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, the longest-running and most comprehensive report on the sources and uses of charitable giving in America, is published by Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute. The Giving USA 2026 report is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University Indianapolis.

Why This Matters

  • Total charitable giving reached a new high in current dollars and the second-highest amount on record in inflation-adjusted dollars, driven by strong financial markets and growth in other economic factors closely associated with giving.
  • Bequests have increased 20% or more in current dollars in three of the last four years. Historically, bequest giving fluctuates substantially from year to year.
  • All four sources of giving increased in current dollars in 2025, and three of the four grew after adjusting for inflation.

“U.S. charitable giving exceeded $600 billion in 2025, a milestone that reflects the resilience of American generosity,” said Wendy McGrady, Chair of Giving USA Foundation and President and COO of The Curtis Group, regarding the results of the Giving USA 2026 report. “Amid a volatile economy and ongoing financial pressures for many households, it’s heartening to see generosity at this scale.”

“Giving through bequests and by foundations were among the most robust areas for generosity, a continuation of the trends seen in recent years,” said Amir Pasic, Ph.D., the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “This likely is in part a reflection of growing asset values due to the strong performance of financial markets in recent years.”

Diving Deeper Into the Giving USA 2026 Report

  • A strong stock market lifted individual giving 4.1% in current dollars (1.4% in inflation-adjusted dollars). However, consumer sentiment, which also influences giving, remained near historic lows and may have dampened giving by some households.
  • Giving by foundations has remained above $100 billion each year since 2022 and has continued to grow at an annualized rate of 1.2% in inflation-adjusted terms. The most growth was seen in 2025.
  • While giving by corporations saw the slimmest growth of any source in 2025, corporate giving has grown 60% over the last five years, outpacing the 29% growth seen in total giving.

Read the full article about key findings from the Giving USA 2026 report at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.