Far fewer Americans include plans for bequests to nonprofits in their wills than give to charity on a regular basis. The pandemic could be a good reason to change that.
In past recessions, donors have tightened their pursestrings even as the need has grown. But two scholars explain why, at least for foundations, there’s room for more generosity in tough times.
Although far fewer Americans took the charitable deduction on their tax returns, giving stayed fairly steady, according to the annual Giving USA report.
Religious values, deeply rooted in texts, serve as an important motivator for giving. Religious Americans volunteer more, give more, and give more often.
Economic trends, not politics, typically influence how money money Americans donate to charity. Yet some advocacy groups say their donations surged after the 2016 presidential election.
Professor of Economics and Philanthropic Studies; Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University