The Giving USA 2025 Report Has Been Released—Now What?
Each summer, when the Giving USA report is released, nonprofit professionals rush to download the latest snapshot of charitable giving trends. And for good reason. It’s the most comprehensive annual report on American philanthropy, offering detailed insight into how donors gave and where those dollars flowed. But at Cloud Nine, we challenge our clients to go one step further.
This report isn’t just a rearview mirror. It’s a GPS.
The true power of Giving USA isn’t in what it says about 2024. It’s in what it helps you do for 2025 and beyond. Let’s unpack how you can use this data to refine your fundraising strategy and position your organization for success in the year ahead.
The Headlines: What You Need to Know
Total giving reached $592.5 billion in 2024 — a 6.3% increase in current dollars, 3.3% adjusted for inflation.
Individual giving rebounded, up 8.2% (5.1% inflation-adjusted).
Corporate giving rose 9.1%, driven by strong GDP and pre-tax profit growth.
Education (+13.2%), international affairs (+17.7%), and public-society benefit organizations (+19.5%) led the way in sector growth.
Bequests declined, as did inflation-adjusted giving to religion and foundations.
Cloud Nine Take: If your sector experienced below-average growth, it’s time to dig into donor motivations, messaging, and timing.
Beyond the Totals: Let Inflation Be Your Reality Check
In real dollars, many gains aren’t as strong as they appear. Adjusting for inflation reveals that while giving is growing, it’s not outpacing economic pressures as quickly as we’d like.
Strategy Tip: Don’t just celebrate higher dollar amounts. Analyze the value of those dollars year over year to make smarter budget decisions.
Treat the Data as a Leading Indicator
Giving USA is a lagging report, it tells us what happened last year. But the trends inside can guide future actions:
DAFs continue to grow: Is your nonprofit DAF-ready with customized outreach and language?
Individual giving is still king: Are you prioritizing major donor relationships and stewardship?
Corporate giving is climbing: How are you tapping into aligned CSR and employee engagement?
Cloud Nine Tip: Use sector growth to justify investment in areas like donor stewardship, tech upgrades, and campaign testing.
5 Ways to Put Giving USA Into Action
Refine Your Case for Support: Align your impact stories with sectors on the rise (e.g. education, public benefit).
Rethink Acquisition: With individual and corporate giving rising, tailor your outreach to attract and convert new prospects.
Double Down on Retention: Inflation means today’s donor dollars are worth more than acquisition costs. Focus on deepening relationships.
Train Your Board: Use Giving USA data in board retreats or development committee meetings to set context and drive urgency.
Inform FY26 Planning: Let national trends shape how you budget for campaigns, events, grants, and staffing.
Final Thought: Lead With Insight, Not Instinct
The best fundraising strategies don’t just react to data, they lead with it. The Giving USA report is your chance to zoom out, evaluate, and forecast. Don’t wait until December to adjust course. Use this summer to build a smarter, more resilient plan.
Need help making the data actionable for your nonprofit? We’d love to guide you.