Quick Facts About Nonprofits

 

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

Nonprofit Organizations

• 1,574,674 tax-exempt organizations, including:
• • 959,698 public charities
  • 100,337 private foundations
  • 514,639 other types of nonprofit organizations, including chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues.

(Source: NCCS Business Master File 08/2011)

• In 2009, nonprofits accounted for 9% of all wages and salaries paid in the United States.
  (Source: BEA 2010)
• Nonprofit Share of GDP was 5.4% in 2009. (Source: BEA 2010)
  

• There are an estimated 278,772 congregations in the United States in 2010.
  (Source: American Church Lists)
   

Public Charity Finances

• In 2009, public charities reported over $1.41 trillion in total revenues and $1.40 trillion in total expenses.  Of the revenue:
• • 22% came from contributions, gifts and government grants.
  • 76% came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts.
  • 2% came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold.

(Source: NCCS Core Files 2009)

• Public charities reported $2.56 trillion in total assets in 2009.
  (Source: NCCS Core Files 2009)
   

Volunteering and Charitable Giving

• Approximately 26.3% of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization between September 2009 and September 2010.  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 2010)
• Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations and corporations reached $290.89 billion in 2010, an increase of 2.1% from the revised 2009 estimates and after adjusting for inflation. Of these charitable contributions:
• • Religious organizations received the largest share, with 35% of total estimated contributions.
  • Educational institutions received the second largest percentage, with 14% of total estimated contributions.
  • Human service organizations accounted for 9% of total estimated contributions in 2010, the fourth largest share.

(Source: Giving USA 2011)

• Individuals gave $211.77 billion in 2010, about the same as in 2009.
  (Source: Giving USA 2011)
   

Foundation Giving

• Foundations gave $45.7 billion in 2010, about the same as in 2009.
  (Source: The Foundation Center)
• Of total foundation giving in 2010:
• • 71% came from independent foundations
  • 9% came from community foundations
  • 10% came from corporate foundations
  • 10% came from operating foundations.

(Source: The Foundation Center)