America’s heralded tradition of charitable giving has eroded since the start of the century across all ages and income levels, new research suggests.
From 2000 to 2014, the share of American households that made donations dropped nearly 11 percentage points, from 66.2 percent to 55.5 percent, according to the analysis.
Average household giving remained largely flat, sagging a few hundred dollars to $2,539 when adjusted for inflation.
The report, by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, comes on the heels of a Chronicle of Philanthropy study that suggests the Great Recession may have broken many Americans of the habit of giving to charity.
The Chronicle found that a diminishing share of Americans are reporting a charitable gift on their tax returns, with nonprofits increasingly reliant on giving by the wealthy. In 2015, 75 percent of all itemized giving came from income earners who make $200,000 or more — up from 53 percent in 2000.
Though the Indiana report also suggests the recession depressed giving over the long term, changes in America itself are responsible too, according to Una Osili, the Lilly school’s director of research.
“Not all of it can be explained by the Great Recession and economic factors,” she says. “There are social, cultural, and demographic factors at play as well.”
For instance, declining religious affiliation and worship attendance are hurting giving to churches, synagogues, or other religious organizations, Ms. Osili says. The share of Americans giving to religious causes dropped from 46 percent to 34 percent.
Ms. Osili also says the increasing tendency of young Americans to put off marriage, homeownership, and other norms of adulthood may be curbing their propensity to give. Giving rates among households led by adults 30 and younger fell off significantly — from 43 percent to 29 percent — beginning in 2008 after years of growth, she notes.
More Giving to Some Causes
Among the bright spots in the report are increases in the share of Americans contributing to international groups and environmental issues. These reflect, in part, the interest of younger adults and a more globally and environmentally focused America, she says.
The percentage of households giving to international causes grew from 2.6 percent to 5.2 percent and for environmental groups from 5.9 percent to 9 percent.
Lilly’s report is based on its Philanthropy Panel Study, which tracks the giving of more than 9,000 individuals and families. It is the first to analyze household-level giving over time.
Lilly is making findings available via a new website with giving data provided at the state and regional levels. These examine giving by income and education levels, marital status, and more.
