Charitable Giving Trends Show Decline Amid Competing Financial Pressures

Mon Dec 22 2025 16:20:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent AP-NORC poll reveals that many Americans are not planning end-of-year charitable donations, highlighting the impact of economic pressures and competing priorities this season.

Despite the traditional surge in charitable donations during December, a recent AP-NORC poll indicates that many Americans are not planning to give this year. About half of the surveyed adults have already made their contributions, while a significant portion does not plan to donate at all. Economic pressures, including inflation and budget cuts, have contributed to the decline in participation, making the giving landscape more challenging than in previous years.

NEW YORK (AP) — Recent findings from an AP-NORC poll indicate that a significant number of Americans are not planning their end-of-year charitable donations, raising concerns among nonprofits reliant on this seasonal generosity. The poll, conducted early December, shows that close to half of U.S. adults have already given to charity this year, while only about 18% plan to contribute again before the year's end. Furthermore, 30% of respondents indicated they did not plan to donate at all.

Economic pressures have played a large role in shaping these giving patterns. Factors such as inflation and competition for discretionary spending have left many potential donors with fewer available funds. Historical and recent budget cuts in social services and foreign aid, as well as ongoing financial challenges faced by households, weigh heavily on the minds of many potential givers. Traditional incentives like new charitable tax deductions may not be enough to spur significant increases in donations this year.

This December marks a critical time for fundraising, as estimates suggest that nearly one-third of yearly donations typically occur in the last month of the year. Dianne Chipps Bailey, managing director of Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions division, emphasized the urgency that comes with the approaching year-end deadline. “December 31 does provide a target to make sure that they’ve given what they intended to give before the year is over,” she said.

Even events designed to promote charitable giving, like GivingTuesday, report disappointing results this year. While Americans are generally willing to spend on retail events like Black Friday, fewer seem inclined to allocate the same enthusiasm to charitable contributions. Just 10% of donors participated in GivingTuesday compared to nearly half who shopped during Black Friday, showcasing a stark contrast in consumer behavior between holiday shopping and philanthropic giving.

Moreover, new patterns have emerged as more individuals contribute to charities at the checkout during retail transactions. About 40% of those surveyed reported donating at the register, which indicates a potential shift in how people think about charitable giving amidst tighter budgets.

In the face of increasing needs for many nonprofits, the decline in individual donations signifies a challenge. Nonprofits are navigating this landscape carefully, often relying on larger, organized fundraising efforts, but they also need to adapt to changing attitudes about individual giving. The trend indicates that while the desire to help exists, the capacity may be dwindling for many, leading to an uncertain future for community support initiatives.