Vanguard Charitable finds Americans giving more, with 30% of donors upping contributions

Americans increased their charitable giving over the past year, with three-quarters of the US population donating to nonprofits and nearly one-third bumping up their contributions, according to a new survey.

The online survey of more than 2,000 US adults, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Vanguard Charitable, found that donors gave an average of $1,394 over the past 12 months – a 29% increase from the prior year's average of $1,081.

Among donors in Vanguard Charitable's survey, 30% reported increasing their contributions compared to the previous year.

The findings align with broader philanthropy trends. Total giving in the US reached $592.50 billion in 2024, marking a 5% increase in current dollars and reflecting a strong stock market and economic growth, according to the Giving USA 2025 Report published by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

The jump in donations last year came despite lingering inflation concerns. Una Osili, associate dean for research and international programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, noted that "while inflation moderated, it remained higher than the rates to which Americans previously had been accustomed. Its lingering impact may have continued to affect everyday donors' giving."

Still, strategic planning appears to help sustain charitable giving. Just under half of donors in Vanguard Charitable's survey (48%) said they include charitable donations in their annual budget. Those who do gave substantially more – an average of $3,001 compared to $808 for those without a giving plan. Among budgeting donors, 43% increased their contributions year-over-year, versus just 17% of non-planners.

Donor-advised funds also showed an outsized impact. DAF donors contributed an average of $4,341, more than 3.5 times the $1,215 given by non-DAF donors. Nearly nine in ten DAF donors maintain a charitable giving budget, with almost half increasing their donations.

Disaster relief received a particular surge in support. DAF donors contributed an average of $1,874 to disaster relief efforts over the past year – almost three times more than the $644 average from non-DAF donors. Overall, disaster relief donations more than doubled, jumping from an average of $477 in 2024 to $757, with donors directing an average of 59% of their total charitable gifts toward relief efforts.

At Vanguard Charitable itself, donors granted $3.4 billion across 257,039 grant units to approximately 64,000 organizations, representing a 21% increase from the prior year. During the government shutdown from October through November 2025, Vanguard Charitable donors more than tripled the amount granted to food banks and food assistance programs, directing $20 million to 775 organizations.

"When we choose to make giving a priority – when we plan, budget, and act with intention – our impact multiplies,” said Rebecca Moffett, president of Vanguard Charitable. “We believe every donor has the power to shape a brighter future."