NCCS | Quick Facts About Nonprofits

For the latest figures and quick facts please refer to THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac 2008: Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering.

Nonprofit Organizations

Currently, 1,514,821 tax-exempt organizations are registered with the IRS. This number includes 956,760 public charities and 112,959 private foundations. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 12/08)
In addition, 443,464 other types of nonprofit organizations, such as chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues, are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 12/08)
In 2006, nonprofits—including public charities, private foundations, and all other—accounted for 8.11 percent of the wages and salaries paid in the United States. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Nonprofit Almanac 2008)
In addition to these organizations an estimated 377,640 congregations currently serve their communities in the United States. (Source: American Church Lists 2006, http://list.infousa.com/acl.htm)

Public Charity Finances

In 2007, public charities reported over $1.4 trillion in total revenues and nearly $1.3 trillion in total expenses. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007)
Of the nearly $1.4 trillion in total revenues, 22 percent came from contributions, gifts and grants and 67 percent came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts. The remaining 11 percent came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007)
Public charities reported nearly $2.6 trillion in total assets in 2007. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007)

Volunteering and Charitable Giving

Approximately 26.4 percent of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization between September 2007 and September 2008. This proportion has remained relatively constant since 2003 after a slight increase from 27.4 percent to 28.8 percent in 2003. (Source: Current Population Survey, September 2008 Supplement found at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm)
Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations and corporations reached $283.24 billion in 2007, an increase of 1.0 percent from 2006 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2008)
Individuals gave $229.03 billion in 2007, a decrease of 0.1 percent from 2006 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2008)
In 2007, religious organizations received the largest proportion of charitable contributions, with 33.4 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations. (Source: Giving USA 2008)
Educational institutions received the second largest percentage of charitable contributions, with 14.1 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations (Source: Giving USA 2008).
Human service organizations, which accounted for 9.7 percent of total estimated contributions in 2007, received the third largest percentage of charitable contributions. (Source: Giving USA 2008)

Foundation Giving

According to the Foundation Center, foundations gave $45.6 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.8% from 2007. (Source: The Foundation Center)
Of the $45.6 billion in foundation giving, 72 percent came from independent foundations, 10 percent came from community foundations, another 10 percent came from corporate foundations, and the remaining 8 percent came from operating foundations. (Source: The Foundation Center)



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Home About NCCS Find an Organization US Nonprofit Sector Overview Quick Facts & Figures Overview by 501(c)3 Category U.S. & State Profiles Almanac Data Analysis Tools Download Data Classification NCCS Projects Register External Resources FAQ		NCCS > Statistics > Quick Facts About Nonprofits Quick Facts About Nonprofits For the latest figures and quick facts please refer to THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac 2008: Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering. Nonprofit Organizations Currently, 1,514,821 tax-exempt organizations are registered with the IRS. This number includes 956,760 public charities and 112,959 private foundations. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 12/08) In addition, 443,464 other types of nonprofit organizations, such as chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues, are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 12/08) In 2006, nonprofits—including public charities, private foundations, and all other—accounted for 8.11 percent of the wages and salaries paid in the United States. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Nonprofit Almanac 2008) In addition to these organizations an estimated 377,640 congregations currently serve their communities in the United States. (Source: American Church Lists 2006, http://list.infousa.com/acl.htm) Public Charity Finances In 2007, public charities reported over $1.4 trillion in total revenues and nearly $1.3 trillion in total expenses. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007) Of the nearly $1.4 trillion in total revenues, 22 percent came from contributions, gifts and grants and 67 percent came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts. The remaining 11 percent came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007) Public charities reported nearly $2.6 trillion in total assets in 2007. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2007) Volunteering and Charitable Giving Approximately 26.4 percent of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization between September 2007 and September 2008. This proportion has remained relatively constant since 2003 after a slight increase from 27.4 percent to 28.8 percent in 2003. (Source: Current Population Survey, September 2008 Supplement found at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm) Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations and corporations reached $283.24 billion in 2007, an increase of 1.0 percent from 2006 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2008) Individuals gave $229.03 billion in 2007, a decrease of 0.1 percent from 2006 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2008) In 2007, religious organizations received the largest proportion of charitable contributions, with 33.4 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations. (Source: Giving USA 2008) Educational institutions received the second largest percentage of charitable contributions, with 14.1 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations (Source: Giving USA 2008). Human service organizations, which accounted for 9.7 percent of total estimated contributions in 2007, received the third largest percentage of charitable contributions. (Source: Giving USA 2008) Foundation Giving According to the Foundation Center, foundations gave $45.6 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.8% from 2007. (Source: The Foundation Center) Of the $45.6 billion in foundation giving, 72 percent came from independent foundations, 10 percent came from community foundations, another 10 percent came from corporate foundations, and the remaining 8 percent came from operating foundations. (Source: The Foundation Center)


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