Giving USA Foundation

A new report exploring Giving Tuesday published by the Giving USA Foundation and researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy finds that an estimated total of $45.7 million was raised through five major donation-processing platforms, including $10.8 million offline donations, on #GivingTuesday.

That estimate is based on contributions tracked by five major donation-processing platforms for nonprofits: Blackbaud, DonorPerfect, GlobalGiving, Network for Good and Razoo.

Donations climbed 3 percent last year to $335.2 billion after adjusting for inflation, with almost all of the increase coming from individuals, couples and estates, according to the latest figures from the Giving USA Foundation. The gains have been uneven, however, skewed toward groups favored by the upper-income households that benefited most from the rebound in stocks and housing. Groups connected to higher education, medical research and cultural institutions are flush, while growth for those such as the Salvation Army and United Way that rely on smaller individual gifts is lagging behind.

Giving Tuesday showed strong growth on two fronts in 2014. The amount of cash raised increased 64 percent over 2013, according to one estimate. In addition, volunteerism is becoming an important part of the annual charity event.

Nonprofits raised nearly $46 million in connection with this year’s event, according to early estimates by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, produced in partnership with the Case Foundation. The event raised $28 million last year, according to Lilly.

Seven out of 10 nonprofits expect donations to increase this year, and 13 percent expect their gains to be substantial — growing by at least 15 percent, according to a survey of 538 charities to be released this week. Charities say they are optimistic because 2013 was stronger than any other year since the recession started. Sixty-two percent of charities said they raised more money last year than in 2012, the largest share since 2007, when 65 percent increased donations.

Even with households across the country feeling continued financial pressure, Americans donated an estimated $316.23 billion to charitable causes in 2012. Modest overall gains in total contributions mirrored the nation’s recent economic trends, Giving USA Foundation and its research partner, the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, announced. The 3.5 percent year-over-year growth rate (1.5 percent adjusted for inflation) in gifts from American individuals, corporations and foundations matches the same figurative portrait of 2012’s economic indicators — some trends were positive, others were negative, but overall, there was growth.

The reports listed below are just a small sampling of the research available to nonprofits about online communications and fundraising, social media, and mobile technology. These reports are, however, some of the most valuable in terms of insight, useful and practical data, and how-to advice.

Tax uncertainty in Washington, D.C., is setting off a mad scramble among wealthy taxpayers and charities to maximize donations before the end of the year. The tax deduction for charitable giving is coming under pressure as part of a broader fiscal agreement now being hammered out on Capitol Hill. The possibility of a deduction limit is prompting many charities to ramp up their collection efforts. Many taxpayers are piling into "donor-advised" funds to donate now and secure a full deduction for 2012.

Among wealthy households, average giving as a percentage of household income held steady at approximately 9 percent between 2009 and 2011, despite the challenging economic environment, according to the 2012 Bank of America Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy. The fourth in this series of biennial studies reveals a strong commitment to charitable causes among high net worth donors.

Last year, China’s 1.3 billion plus people donated roughly $8 billion dollars to charity, down almost 18 percent on the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Now, Chinese foundations are tapping American nonprofit organizations for help in whipping Chinese foundations into better shape. As part of an agreement announced last week, U.S.-based nonprofit Give2Asia will donate one million yuan (more than $150,000) to China Foundation Center, a Beijing-based registered public charity.

A movement to create a national day of giving on Nov. 27, 2012, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, called #GivingTuesday, will be the first of its kind. Coinciding with the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are synonymous with holiday shopping