35 Fundraising Statistics & Figures You Should Know

February 2, 2026

A person holding a stack of money at a desk with coins in the background.

Director of Marketing – Funds2Orgs

Fundraising is driven by more than mission and message; it’s shaped by real trends, donor expectations, and the channels people actually use to give. It’s part strategy, part storytelling—and the best strategies start with solid data.

The latest reports can reveal what’s working, what’s changing, and where donor behavior is heading. We’ve rounded up key fundraising statistics across every major category, from overall trends and nonprofit performance to direct mail campaigns and more. Use these numbers to benchmark your strategy, tailor your approach, and optimize your message based on what donors are really responding to.

Key Fundraising Statistics & Figures

Total U.S. charitable giving reached $592.5 billion in 2024, growing 6.3% in current dollars and 3.3% after adjusting for inflation—the first real increase in three years (Giving USA, 2025).
Giving sources remained consistent, with individuals accounting for 66% of donations, foundations 19%, bequests 8%, and corporations 7% (Giving USA, 2025).
Major sectors saw growth: public-society benefit (+16.1%), international affairs (+14.3%), and education (+9.9%) (Giving USA, 2025).

Charitable Giving & Donation Statistics

Understanding how, when, and why people give is essential for any successful fundraising strategy. These donation trends reflect shifts in donor behavior, generosity, and giving channels over the past couple of years.

Americans gave a combined total of $592.5 billion in 2024 (Giving USA, 2025).
Foundations gave $109.81 billion in 2024 (Giving USA, 2025).
Individuals were responsible for a majority of total giving (66%), amounting to $392.45 billion in 2024 (Giving USA, 2025).
In 2024, 23% of charitable dollars went to religious organizations, with education and human services tied for second at 14% each (Giving USA, 2025).
Giving to public-society benefit organizations increased more than any other recipient category, up by 19.5% from 2023 (Giving USA, 2025).
High-income households donated an average of $34,917 to nonprofits in 2022 (Bank of America, 2023).
85% of charitable giving decisions for a household are made or influenced by women (Bank of America, 2023).
Giving is expected to increase by 3.9% in 2025 (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, 2024).

Nonprofit Fundraising Statistics

Fundraising isn’t just about dollars raised; it’s about donor retention, engagement, and long-term sustainability. These stats offer a closer look at how nonprofits are performing and where challenges are emerging.

In 2024, American charities saw a drop in the number of donors for the fourth straight year in a row (The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2025).
Q4 of 2024 saw an overall increase in fundraising by 3.5% from 2023 numbers, but both donor count and retention rates dropped by approximately 4.5% and 2.6%, respectively (AFP Global, 2025).

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Statistics

Peer-to-peer fundraising leverages personal networks to drive support. It’s also proven to be one of the most effective ways to increase both reach and revenue. These statistics highlight its growing role in nonprofit strategy.

Nonprofits responsible for America’s Top 30 peer-to-peer fundraising programs increased fundraising revenue by 3% in 2024, with a total of $1.14 billion (Peer-to-Peer, 2025).
Peer fundraisers who make a personal effort are 13.8% more likely to receive at least one donation and are likely to receive a higher amount (Wiley, 2024).
Peer-to-peer fundraising pages with personalized visuals are more likely to receive donations (Wiley, 2024).

Online Fundraising Statistics

Digital giving is on the rise, fueled by mobile app use, recurring donations, and streamlined donation platforms. These online fundraising stats show just how central the World Wide Web has become for modern campaigns.

For small nonprofits, online giving accounts for 13.4% of their revenue; 8.3% for medium, and 4.1% for large ones (Blackbaud, 2024).
86% of nonprofits use email marketing (Nonprofit Tech for Good Survey, 2025).
48% of donors prefer to receive communications via email (Neon One Nonprofit Email Report).
A third of donors say email communications are the tool that most inspires them to donate (Online Donor Feedback Survey, 2025).
The average email list size for nonprofits is 4,191 contacts (Neon One Nonprofit Email Report).
Nonprofits raised $58 for every 1000 emails sent in 2024—a 10% decrease from the previous year (M+R Benchmarks Report, 2025).
Nonprofits raise between 17-34% of their annual online revenue in December (M+R Benchmarks Report, 2024).
In 2024, average online revenue for nonprofits increased by 2% after a 1% decline in 2023 (M+R Benchmarks Report, 2025).
PayPal was the most commonly used alternative payment method in 2024, and 76% of nonprofits made it an option on their donation pages (M+R Benchmarks Report, 2025).

Direct Mail Fundraising Statistics

Despite the rise of digital giving channels, direct mail remains a powerful force in nonprofit fundraising. It offers high open and response rates, strong donor trust, and impressive ROI, especially when personalized and integrated with online campaigns.

75% of American households have donated through direct mail (Zipdo, 2025).
Fundraising via direct mail has an average of 29% ROI (Zipdo, 2025).
Direct mail has a high open rate, with 82% of donors opening it within 3 of receiving (Gitnux, 2025).
Direct mail is 30 times more likely to be read than an email is (Gitnux, 2025).
Donors acquired through direct mail have an average lifetime value of $2,500 (Gitnux, 2025).
The average donation from direct mail is approximately twice that from digital channels (Gitnux, 2025).

Corporate Fundraising Statistics

Corporate giving extends far beyond one-time donations. From matching employee gifts to sponsorships, corporate giving plays a major role in the nonprofit ecosystem. These figures illustrate the contributions of businesses and highlight the value of cultivating corporate partnerships.

Corporate giving climbed by 9.1% to roughly $44.4 billion in 2024 (Giving USA, 2025).
Stock market gains were a major driver of increased corporate and foundation giving (Giving USA, 2025).
65% of Fortune 500 companies offer employee gift matching programs (Double the Donation, 2025)
Workplace giving raises around $5 billion annually (America’s Charities).

Final Thoughts: The Value of Fundraising Statistics

Fundraising is always evolving. It’s part art, part science—and science starts with the data. These fundraising statistics give you more than just numbers; they offer real insights into what’s driving donor behavior, what’s working, and where new opportunities may be emerging.

Staying grounded in current data can help you make smarter decisions, build stronger campaigns, and earn donor trust. Whether you’re refining your outreach strategy or presenting a case to stakeholders, these fundraising statistics offer a reliable foundation. And remember, the most successful fundraisers don’t just read the data—they act on it.

Bookmark this page and refer back as you plan ahead, because the numbers don’t lie. And, when you’re ready to plan your own fundraiser, look no further than Funds2Orgs.

Our shoe drive fundraising events are simple, easy, and fun to host–and they give you a chance to give back! Get started now to plan a fundraiser that not only helps you meet your goals but also makes the world a better place.

Have questions? Want to learn more about fundraising for your group or organization? Contact us today to start a conversation.

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(407) 930-2979