Changes in giving by type of recipient organization, 2006–2007 and 2007–2008,
and 2006–2008 cumulative
(In current dollars)

Religion

Cumulative change, 2006 to 2008*

9.6%

Education

Human services

Health

International affairs Public-society benefit

Arts, culture, & humanities

Environment/animals - 5.5% - 6.4%

- 6.5% - 12.7%

- 5.5%

6.4% 3.9%

5.5%

0.5%

- 5.4%

7.8% 5.8%

5.4% 8.4%

5.4%

 

0.6%

- 1.5%

11.5%

0.9%

16.8%

2007–20082006–2007

Percentage change from previous year

10.8%

16.1%

4.8%

* The cumulative change is calculated separately and is not the sum of the changes in the two years. It is not graphed.

Three subsectors saw estimated growth in giving in 2008: religion, public-society benefit, and international affairs. The other subsectors saw decreases, as did giving to foundations, which is not shown in this graph.

Except for giving to religion, estimates for 2007 and 2008 are based on the historical relationships between changes in household income (personal income), the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, giving to each type of charity, and total giving. These estimates will be revised when data are available from IRS Forms 990 filed by charities with revenue of $25,000 or more.

The estimated change in giving to religion is based on data from the National Council of Churches of Christ, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and surveys of Catholic parishes from 2002 through 2006.

Giving USA projects that giving to religion increased by 5. 5 percent in 2008, compared with growth of 3. 9 percent in 2007. The cumulative change from 2006 to 2008 is an increase of 9. 6 percent.

Gifts to education are estimated to have decreased 5. 5 percent in 2008, following growth of 6. 4 percent in 2007. The change from 2006 to 2008 is a cumulative increase of 0.5 percent.

Giving to human services organizations is estimated to have dropped 12. 7 percent in 2008, following an increase of 8.4 percent in 2007. The cumulative change from 2006 to 2008 is a decline of 5. 4 percent.

Giving to health organizations fell an estimated 6. 5 percent in 2008, after increasing an estimated 5. 4 percent in 2007. The cumulative change from 2006 to 2008 is a decline of 1. 5 percent.