In 2025, Americans contributed a remarkable $617 billion to various charitable causes, marking the second-highest total in inflation-adjusted terms, although it fell short of the record set in 2021. This surge in giving was significantly influenced by a $3.1 billion bequest from the estate of Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, which contributed to a total of $62 billion in charitable bequests. The increase in donations was largely driven by the growing net worth of wealthy Americans, whose estates are the primary source of these posthumous gifts. Additionally, giving by foundations has remained robust, responding positively to strong stock market growth, with no decrease in real terms since 2010.
While overall charitable donations grew, the share of giving from individuals decreased to 64% in 2025, the second-lowest share ever recorded. Individual donations totaled $44 billion, reflecting a modest increase of 0.5% from the previous year. In contrast, corporate giving has seen a significant rise of nearly 30% since 2020, indicating a shift in the landscape of charitable contributions. Notably, donations to religious institutions, which accounted for 23% of all donations, remained the largest category, totaling $152 billion.
The year 2025 also witnessed record highs in several other categories, including $61 billion for health-related causes, $27 billion for the arts, and $25 billion for environmental and animal-related nonprofits. However, gifts to foundations experienced an 18.3% decline after reaching a peak in 2024. The growth in donations to education and public-society benefit causes, typically favored by wealthier donors, was particularly pronounced, with educational gifts increasing by 8.9%.
Despite the overall increase in charitable giving, the contributions from less affluent donors lagged behind, particularly in religious institutions. This trend suggests a potential increase in the number of individuals making smaller donations to charity, as the wealthiest Americans continue to dominate the landscape of charitable giving. The dynamics of charitable contributions in 2025 reflect broader economic trends and the ongoing impact of wealth distribution in the United States.
