Giving to environment/animals, 1968–2008
($ in billions)

6. 37

6. 58

5. 44

4. 64

2. 92

3. 51

2.07

1. 96

Current dollars

Inflation-adjusted dollars 1. 14

1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 Giving to the environment/animals subsector began to be tracked separately in 1987.

 

Giving to environment/animals has increased steadily from 1988 to 2007. It is estimated to have dipped slightly in 2008.

In 1988, the inflation-adjusted amount given to environment/animals ($2.07 billion) divided by the number of American households ( 91. 12 million, using Current Population Survey data from the Census Bureau) results in an estimate of giving to environment/ animals of $23 (adjusted for inflation) per household.

In a similar calculation including giving from all donor types, by 1998, the number of households had grown to 102. 53 million and the per household average gift to environment/animals had risen to $45. For 2008, with total estimated giving from all sources to environment/animals of $6.58 billion and approximately 116. 78 million households, donations to environment/animals increased to an average of $56 per household.

The calculations of giving “per household” include all households, even those that do not give to environment/animals. They also include all environment/animals giving, including that from corporations, foundations, and through charitable bequests. This allows for comparison over time and across subsectors.