Giving by bequest, 1968–2008 ($ in billions)

22. 66

21. 28

18. 19

17.14

13. 20

11. 96

12. 98

9. 90

9. 70

8. 59

8. 86

8. 39

6. 57

1. 60

3. 88

2. 60

Current dollars Inflation-adjusted dollars

1968

2.00

1973

1978

1983

1988

1993

1998

2003

2008

 

Charitable bequests reached an estimated $22.66 billion in 2008.

The estimate for 2008 includes an estimated $19.70 billion in charitable bequests from estates filing federal estate tax returns in 2008 and an estimated $2.96 billion from estates that do not file federal returns.

Among all decedents, an estimated 120,000 estates leave a charitable bequest each year. The vast majority of the amount in the estimate (about 85 percent) is from about 8,000 estates that file estate tax returns and claim charitable deductions.

Since at least 2001, an average of 45 percent of the amount contributed according to estate tax returns has gone to foundations. The balance is divided among all other types of charities. Assuming this pattern held true for 2008, an estimated $12.5 billion in 2008 was bequeathed to charities other than foundations, based on the estimated charitable bequests from estates that do and do not file estate tax returns.