• Key findings from Giving USA 2026: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2025 report that giving by individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations to U.S. charities increased 5.7% in current dollars (3.0% adjusted for inflation) to an estimated $617.20 billion in 2025.
  • Bequest giving rose nearly 20% (16.6% adjusted for inflation) over 2024, the largest increase of any of the four sources of giving in 2025.
  • Education, public-society benefit, and environment/animals saw more than 10% growth in current dollars. The three types of recipient charities (subsectors) have seen the largest annualized rates of change over the last five years.

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. It 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. “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.”

Read the full article about Giving USA 2026: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2025 at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.