Changes in giving by type of recipient organization, 2006–2007 and 2007–2008,
and 2006–2008 cumulative
(Adjusted for inflation)

Religion

Education

Human services

Health

International affairs Public-society benefit

Arts, culture, & humanities

Environment/animals

- 9.0%

-10.0% - 15.9%

- 9.9%

4.9% 2.9%

2.5% 5.4%

3.4% 1.0%

1.5% 1.6%

- 9.0%

- 3.1%

2007–20082006–2007

Percentage change from previous year

7.7%

12.9%

Cumulative change, 2006 to 2008*

2.6%

- 5.9%

- 11.4%

- 7.8%

4.5%

- 5.5%

9.4%

- 1.9%

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

Giving to religion and public-society benefit increased, adjusted for inflation. All other subsectors are estimated to have had a decline in giving, with sharp declines ( 9 percent or more) in five types of organizations. These are the most drastic declines in giving to these subsectors in the past 40 years.

This is the first year since 1987 (when all subsectors above began to be tracked and when the series based on IRS Forms 990 began) that six of the eight tracked subsectors have been estimated to decline. The prior worst year was 2002, when total giving fell an inflation-adjusted 1. 1 percent and five of the eight subsectors showed a drop in charitable contributions.

Adjusted for inflation, giving to religion increased 1. 6 percent. This includes donations to houses of worship in all faith groups, including non-denominational churches. It also includes media ministries, missionary societies, and other entities organized to teach or promote religious faith and practice.

Stock market changes are associated with changes in giving to the education, human services, and health subsectors. Giving to education declined an estimated 9.0 percent. — Giving to human services declined an estimated 15. 9 percent. — Giving to health dropped an estimated 10.0 percent. —

Giving to organizations in the public-society benefit subsector rose an estimated 1. 5 percent, adjusted for inflation, in 2008. This subsector includes United Ways, Jewish federations, economic and community development programs, civil rights groups, and freestanding donor-advised funds.