Total giving by source by five-year spans in inflation-adjusted dollars, 1969–2008
($ in billions)

1,568.28

1,388.80

Individuals Bequests Foundations Corporations

992.55

1, 185. 86

847.80

1,050.43

765.07

654.36

612.55

604.60

766.10

676.34

613.26

476.40

499.04

542.63

116. 88

117. 67

24. 66 25. 51 33.08 47. 29 45. 48 51. 47 37. 27 36.08 50. 98 62. 94 60.02 42. 78 42. 57 53. 54 63.04
1969–1973 1974–1978 1979–1983 1984–1988 1989–1993

Giving USA uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to adjust for inflation.

53. 56

86. 56

86. 33

1994–1998

66. 67 154.03

1999–2003

188. 14

77. 40

2004–2008

 

After two decades of comparatively slow growth from 1969 through 1988, giving shows a steep increase, adjusted for inflation, from 1989 through 2008.

The amount given from corporations, foundations, and individuals has steadily risen since 1994. Bequests increased in amount from 1994–1998 to the 1999–2003 period and have held at approximately the same level in the past five years.