Giving USA 2025 Report: What the Data Tells Us and Where We Go from Here

Created By: CJ Orr
July 15, 2025

The 2025 Giving USA report confirms that generosity remains a defining American value, with total giving reaching $592.50 billion in 2024—a 6.3% increase in current dollars and 3.3% when adjusted for inflation. While this recovery didn’t match the sharp gains in the stock market, it’s a welcome rebound from the previous year’s downturn. But the data also raises critical questions about where the sector is headed—and where nonprofits should be focusing their time and resources.

The Upside: Growth in Individual Giving and Key Sectors

• Individual giving is back on top. Donations from individuals grew 8.2% (5.1% after inflation), totaling two-thirds of all giving—by far the largest revenue stream. For years, we’ve emphasized that individual giving is where the real action is—and this year’s data reinforces that message.
• Education, Health, Arts, and Environment hit new highs. These four subsectors reached their highest-ever levels of support, even when adjusted for inflation. Education grew 13.2%, health rose 5.0%, arts and culture increased 9.5%, and environmental giving jumped 7.7%.
• Corporate giving improved. Corporate philanthropy rose 9.1%—a strong showing, though still representing only 7% of total giving. While the increase is notable, corporations remain a relatively small slice of the pie.

The Challenges: Bequests Fall and Religious Giving Declines Again

• Surprising decline in bequests. Despite the increasing focus on planned giving, bequests dropped by 1.6% in current dollars (4.4% after inflation). This is an unexpected shift and one worth watching as legacy strategies continue to mature.
• Religious giving continues its long-term decline. Religion still accounts for the largest share of donations at 23%, but that share is shrinking. It has fallen dramatically from 56% in the mid-1980s to just 25% over the past five years.
• Foundations look flat after inflation. While nominal foundation giving rose 2.4%, it was essentially flat once adjusted for inflation. The perception that foundations are stepping up may not hold when viewed through a real-dollar lens.

What This Means: Double Down on Major Gifts and Individual Engagement

Looking at the above Giving by Source pie chart, the message is clear: individuals remain the dominant force in philanthropy, accounting for 66% of all giving. While foundation, corporate, and bequest contributions have their place, they pale in comparison in terms of market size and potential ROI.

Additionally, giving continues to track alongside the S&P 500, with philanthropy acting as a lagging indicator. In 2024, the S&P rose nearly 20%, while giving grew more modestly at 3.3% after inflation. This suggests a cautious but recovering donor climate—and one where securing major gifts from high-capacity donors remains essential.

Where Nonprofits Should Focus Now

1. Prioritize individuals. Whether through major gifts, annual campaigns, or legacy giving, individuals represent the highest return opportunity.
2. Understand your positioning. Growth is concentrated in select subsectors—align your messaging with where donors are most inspired to give.
3. Track wealth dynamics. Fewer people are giving more money. Tailor strategies accordingly by deepening relationships with top supporters.
4. Don’t over-index on corporate or foundation funding. These streams remain small compared to individual giving and may not deliver the same ROI. Nonprofits must prioritize diversification in their fundraising strategies to not become overly reliant on one revenue source and maximize adaptability.

Market instability and economic uncertainty have continued to affect the sector well into 2025, requiring many organizations to substantially pivot their operations. As we continue to monitor the economic and political landscape and its impact on philanthropic trends, Orr Group is here to help our clients stay agile, adapt with confidence, and keep moving forward in the face of change.

CJ Orr is the Chief Executive Officer of Orr Group. As an expert project and relationship manager with 10+ years of experience in the sector, CJ utilizes data, technology, and financially-backed trends to execute on the development of strategies and tactics to drive effective fundraising plans that meet or exceed targets.