Corporate giving as a percentage of corporate pretax profits, 1968–2008

1. 6

1. 4

1. 3

1. 2

1. 2

1.0

0.8

0.9

0.7

1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008

Note: Graph shows actual calculated percentages. In text, percentages are rounded to the nearest 1/10 of one percent.

 

Corporate giving has averaged around 1 percent of corporate profits for at least the last four decades, with variations year-to-year as profits and giving programs change.

Years where giving is a low percentage of corporate profits can reflect either very high profit levels or lower than usual giving levels.

The recent dip in giving as a share of corporate profits (2006 to 2007) actually reflects increased profits.

Corporate profits declined in 2008, however, giving did not fall at the same rate. Therefore, giving as a share of corporate profits is estimated to have increased slightly in 2008 to 0.9 percent.