“American households are the real drivers of charitable giving in the United States.”

Yesterday, the annual Giving USA data was released.  Gene Temple, Founding Dean, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy mentions that, "American households are the real drivers of charitable giving in the United States."  I couldn't agree more.  Highlights of the report are below.  You can find the entire report at http://www.givingusareports.org/.

Ø Charitable giving in 2012 rose 3.5 percent (1.5 percent adjusted for
inflation) to $316.23 billion. 

Ø Giving by individuals comprised 72 percent of all giving by source in
2012—the same percentage as in 2011, according to Giving USA’s revised
estimates for giving by individuals. 

Ø Foundation grantmaking by independent, community, and operating
foundations amounted to 15 percent of all gifts made in 2012. This is the
same percentage as in 2011, according to the Foundation Center’s revised
estimates for giving by foundations. 

Ø Analyzing previous data released annually by the Foundation Center,
Giving USA estimates that family foundation grantmaking comprised 46 percent
of total giving by all foundations in 2012. 

Ø Giving by individuals, bequest, and family foundations amounted to 86
percent of total giving in 2012. 

Ø Giving by charitable bequest—which includes an estimate for charitable
bequests claimed on estate taxes and an estimate for those estates that do
not file with the IRS—accounted for 7 percent of all gifts given in 2012.
This is one percentage point lower than in 2011, according to Giving USA’s
revised estimates for giving by bequest. 

Ø Giving by corporations comprised 6 percent of total giving in 2012. This
is one percentage point higher than in 2011, according to Giving USA’s
revised estimates for giving by corporations.