Quick Facts About Nonprofits

For the most recent data on the philanthropic sector please refer to The Nonprofit Almanac 2012. 

For the first time, this resource will be available as both an e-book and a softcover book, and by chapter. 

For the latest figures and quick facts please also refer to THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF.

Nonprofit Organizations

• 1,551,705 tax-exempt organizations, including:
• • 963,255 public charities
  • 97,941 private foundations
  • 490,509 other types of nonprofit organizations, including chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues.

(Source: NCCS Business Master File 02/2013)

• In 2010, nonprofits accounted for 9.2% of all wages and salaries paid in the United States.
  (Source: The Nonprofit Almanac, 2012)
• Nonprofit Share of GDP was 5.5% in 2012. (Source: The Nonprofit Almanac, 2012)
  

• There are an estimated 322,486 congregations in the United States in May 2013.
  (Source: American Church Lists)
   

Public Charity Finances

• In 2010, public charities reported over $1.51 trillion in total revenues and $1.45 trillion in total expenses.  Of the revenue:
• • 22% came from contributions, gifts and government grants.
  • 73% came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts.
  • 5% came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold.

(Source: NCCS Core Files 2010)

• Public charities reported $2.71 trillion in total assets in 2010.
  (Source: NCCS Core Files 2010)
   

Volunteering and Charitable Giving

• Approximately 26.5% of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization between September 2009 and September 2012.  This proportion has remained relatively constant since 2003 after a slight increase from 27.4% to 28.8% in 2003.
  (Source: Current Population Survey, September 2012)
• Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations, bequests, and corporations reached $298.42 billion in 2011, an increase of 0.9% from the revised 2010 estimates and after adjusting for inflation. Of these charitable contributions:
• • Religious organizations received the largest share, with 32% of total estimated contributions.
  • Educational institutions received the second largest percentage, with 13% of total estimated contributions.
  • Human service organizations accounted for 12% of total estimated contributions in 2010, the third largest share.

(Source: Giving USA 2012)

• Individuals gave $217.79 billion in 2011, about the same as in 2010.
  (Source: Giving USA 2012)
   

Foundation Giving

• Foundations gave $46.9 billion in 2011, up 2.2 percent from 2010.
  (Source: The Foundation Center, 2012)
  
• Of total foundation giving in 2010:
• • 71% came from independent foundations
  • 9% came from community foundations
  • 11% came from corporate foundations
  • 9% came from operating foundations.

(Source: The Foundation Center, 2012)