While national giving may not have returned to its all-time high achieved in 2007, total charitable giving by American individuals, foundations, estates, and corporations rose for the third consecutive year in 2012 to $316.23 billion, according to the new Giving USA 2013 report.

Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy is a detailed outline of the sources and uses of charitable giving throughout the country. It has provided information to the philanthropic sector for 57 years and is still considered to be the best resource for nonprofits, donors, and volunteers alike.

Based on data from 2012 (the most recent data available), Giving USA 2013 estimated an increase in total giving of 3.5% from the previous year.  Because giving often reflects the economy, the Great Recession caused a decrease in giving in 2008 and 2009, but the upward trend over the past three years continues to demonstrate the strength of the nonprofit sector and its importance to the community.

Furthermore, the willingness of individuals and households to give to charity is associated with feelings of financial security, so as the economy continues its slow upward climb, contributions from individuals are rising in the same way. Therefore, nonprofits can continue to get the support and contributions they need, even in this challenging economic time.

Key findings:

• Total estimated U.S. charitable giving increased by 3.5% , to $316.23 billion, in 2012
• Giving by individuals is estimated to have increased by 3.9%
• Giving by foundations increased by an estimated 4.4%
• Giving by corporations is estimated to have increased by 12.2%
• Growth in giving by corporations in 2012 was largely driven by a gain in corporate pre-tax profits and a growth in the GDP. Corporations are increasingly giving in the form of in-kind gifts and product donations—factors that have attributed to the overall rise in corporate giving in recent years.
• Estimated giving to arts, culture, and humanities grew the most of particular recipient types in 2012—likely the result of donors returning to pre-recession giving priorities.

Download the free highlights of Giving USA 2013 here.

Purchase the full Giving USA report here.

 ~Rebecca Jackson, Communications and Development Voluntern