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Recent Giving Statistics and Its Impact in America

Charitable contributions are given each year in the United States. They allow for many groups to continue their work with programs that help benefit your community and the country at large. Here is a look at some of the giving statistics and how they affect you and your country.

One good sign is that the statistics of charitable contributions in 2006 went up a percent over 2005, even after being adjusted for inflation. Starting in 2001, the amount of contributions had gone down as a result of an economic slump. An upward trend is not only a sign of an improving economy; it also provides many services for those who depend on the services of charities. Many people do not realize the outward impact that charities have on their surrounding communities and how deeply the affect the economy and the communities that work with them. If there were not any charities, the economy that we know today and the way that America works would simply not be the same.

Here is a look at just how big an effect the charitable organizations have on their communities.

For instance, the 2006 totals for donations to charitable organizations were $295 billion. This accounted for approximately 2.2 percent of the GDP. This was an increase of about one percent over the previous year.

Of that money, a little over three quarters of it came from individuals, or a total of about $223 million. When adjusted for inflations, this is also an increase of just over a one percent increase.

Also up were the donations to charities made by foundations. The total was $36.5 billion, which was up over nine percent.

On the opposite end, giving by bequest and donations from corporations were both down. Donations done by bequest were $22.9 billion, down about five percent, while corporation donations were down around ten percent for a total of $12.7 billion dollars.

Of all the places that received donations, religious organizations received the most support – nearly $97 billion. Of these donations, people who chose to donate at their place of worship received most. The second highest group was education, which received less than half that total at just under $41 billion.

The largest increase in donations was seen by charities that work in the arts, culture, and humanities. They received $12.5 billion in donations, which was up nearly ten percent from the year before.

In total, nearly all the types of charities saw an increase in donations. Only four saw a decrease: human services groups, international organizations, health charities, and environmental and animal organizations. Part of this may be due to the fact that donations in these areas may have been inflated in 2005 due to the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts made by many of these groups. If you exclude these donations, the changes were not as dramatic. This illustrates directly how whole communities can come together in the face of a tragedy and have their resources pooled to make a difference.

Perhaps the largest impact of all is one that cannot be measured directly in numbers. Every time that you give money to a cause you believe in, you are helping it to achieve its goals. Work with local charities, and you can see a direct improvement in your own community – whether it be cleaning up the parks, funding local shelters, or feeding the homeless. Work with global charities, and you can help protect the environment or provide healthcare to war orphans. No matter what cause you believe in supporting, every little part that you do can help that cause out. The only donation that will not help is the one not given.