Jun 24, 2025 - Economy
U.S. charitable giving rose to second-highest level on record in 2024
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Charitable donations in the U.S. hit $592.5 billion in 2024.
The big picture: That’s a 3.3% jump from 2023 and the second-highest inflation-adjusted total ever recorded, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation and Indiana University’s School of Philanthropy.
Zoom in: Donations to nearly every cause grew, from education to environment to the arts.
- Individuals were the leading source of giving, donating $392 billion last year and topping the total gifts of foundations and corporations.
- Religious causes received the greatest share of donations — 23%.
Zoom out: The rise in giving was supported by the 2.8% growth in the economy last year, researchers at Indiana University write in The Conversation.
- It also helped that 2024 was a banner year for the stock market and personal incomes rose, they note.
Flashback: The highest annual giving total ($644 billion) was recorded in 2021, when the pandemic triggered a surge in donations.
- This year saw the fastest pace of growth in giving since that Covid-era spike.
