Predictions For Charitable Donations in 2012

According to a recent report by Atlas of Giving, Americans’ charitable giving significantly outpaced economic growth in 2011. Charitable donations increased 7.5% from 2010 with contributions totaling over $346 billion. Atlas of Giving has predicted that charitable giving will likely increase even more this year.

Atlas of Giving estimates that charitable giving will increase by 3.9% this year, with total contributions totaling near $360 billion. The group also predicts that the environmental sector will see an 8% increase in contributions while religious organization will only see a 1.6% increase. Individual donors will likely account for 75% of all US contributions, Foundations will account for 13%, bequests will make up 7%, and corporations will likely account for the remaining 5%. As a result of 2012 being an election year, political fundraising will take away some money from charities, but the effect will likely be insignificant.

See Michael S. Fischer, 4 Key Predictions for Charitable Giving in 2012, Advisor One, Feb. 6, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.