Is there a decrease in Americans donating to charity?

A research called Philanthropy Panel Study, conducted by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, has shown a decrease in America’s donor base. This research shows that charities are receiving a smaller amount of money today, than they received at the year 2000. American donors are donating less money than they used to donate, and this phenomenon is occurring across all demographics, and the reductions in donations are presents in religious groups, and middle-age donors, who are typically the kind of people who donate the most money to charities.

From the start of the 21st century to 2014, the percentage of American citizens who donate to charity has decreased from 66.2 percent to more than 55.5 percent, this represents a drop of 10.7 percentage points.

People affiliated to a religion made less charitable gifts of any kind. In the year 2000, 69 percent of people affiliated to a religion made charitable gifts, but in the year 2014 that percentage was a 58%, which represents a reduction of a 11 percent.

Historically, the most charitable age group was the people between 51 to 60 years old. In the year 2000, 78 percent of this group made a charitable giving, nevertheless in 2014 only 58 percent of that group made a charitable gift. This represents a 20-percentage point decline, and sadly it is the largest drop among all the age groups.

This situation represents a huge challenge for organizations that run their operations based in the charitable gifts they receive from donors. They will have to look for new, and creative solutions to show donors the importance of their charitable giving, and the impact they may have.

If you would like to have more details about the Philanthropy Panel Study, conducted by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, I would suggest checking their website in the link below:

https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/research/current-research/philanthropy-panel-study.html

 

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