Serve with a Nonprofit? Charitable Giving Is Up

Statistics compiled by the National Philanthropic Trust show that, despite a poor economy, Americans are a very generous people.If you work for a nonprofit organization or serve on its board and felt the pinch of cutbacks a few years ago, you may be interested to learn that in 2011, the most recent year for which figures are available, charitable giving actually increased by 3.9% over 2010.Donations from corporations held steady, and foundations and individuals increased their support.  Donors in 65% of households gave nearly $218 billion, or 73% of total giving.Even while giving was increasing, statistics indicate the number of charitable organizations decreased since 2010. Nevertheless, the tax-exempt sector still employs nearly 7% of the total workforce in the United States, as well as being supported by a significant volunteer force.If you’re interested in more facts and figures, Giving USA produces an annual report that can be very useful to donors, nonprofit organizations, and scholars.  It provides comprehensive data on the sources and uses of donations throughout the nation. Donors can identify areas of need, where your gift will make the most difference.  Organizations not seeing a charitable giving increase yet may want to compare similar types of charities to assess the national trend.Whether you’re with a nonprofit and need help improving your accounting or, as an individual or business, simply want to organize and prioritize your charitable giving, Patrick & Robinson CPAs can help. Contact us: Office@CPAsite.com or 904-396-5400.