NCCS | Quick Facts About Nonprofits

For the latest figures and quick facts please refer to THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac 2008: Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering.

Nonprofit Organizations

Currently, 850,455 public charities and 104,276 private foundations are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 01/06)
In addition, 463,714 other types of nonprofit organizations, such as chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues, are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 01/06)
In 2004, nonprofits—including public charities, private foundations, and all other—accounted for 8.3 percent of the wages and salaries paid in the United States. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Nonprofit Almanac 2007 (Forthcoming). Preliminary estimate based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
In addition to these organizations an estimated 377,640 congregations currently serve their communities in the United States. (Source: American Church Lists 2006, http://list.infousa.com/acl.htm)

Public Charity Finances

In 2004, public charities reported nearly $1.1 trillion in total revenues and just over $1.0 trillion in total expenses. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004)
Of the nearly $1.1 trillion in total revenues, 23 percent came from contributions, gifts and grants and 71 percent came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts. The remaining 6 percent came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004)
Public charities reported $1.9 trillion in total assets in 2004. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004)

Volunteering and Charitable Giving

Approximately 28.8 percent of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization in 2005. This proportion has remained relatively constant since 2003 after a slight increase from 27.4 percent to 28.8 percent in 2003. (Source: Current Population Survey, September 2005 Supplement found at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.toc.htm)
Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations and corporations reached $248.52 billion in 2004, an increase of 2.3 percent from 2003 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2005)
Individuals gave $187.92 billion in 2004, an increase of 1.4 percent from 2003 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2005)
In 2004, religious organizations received the largest proportion of charitable contributions, with 35.5 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations. (Source: Giving USA 2005)
Educational institutions received the second largest percentage of charitable contributions, with 13.6 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations (Source: Giving USA 2005).
Contributions to human service organizations, which accounted for 7.7 percent of total estimated contributions, declined for a third year in a row, dropping by an inflation-adjusted 1.1 percent in 2004. (Source: Giving USA 2005)

Foundation Giving

According to the Foundation Center, foundations gave $40.7 billion in 2006, an increase of 11.7% from the $36.4 billion given in 2005. (Source: The Foundation Center)
In 2005, education received the largest share of foundation giving (24.0% of the total), while human services received the largest percentage of grants (26.0%). (Source: The Foundation Center)



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About NCCS Statistics FAQ Quick Facts U.S. & State Profile Overview State Profiles in Depth Table Wizard Database Access NCCS Projects Classification Resources Publications		NCCS > Statistics > Quick Facts About Nonprofits Quick Facts About Nonprofits For the latest figures and quick facts please refer to THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN BRIEF Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac 2008: Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering. Nonprofit Organizations Currently, 850,455 public charities and 104,276 private foundations are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 01/06) In addition, 463,714 other types of nonprofit organizations, such as chambers of commerce, fraternal organizations and civic leagues, are registered with the IRS. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Business Master File 01/06) In 2004, nonprofits—including public charities, private foundations, and all other—accounted for 8.3 percent of the wages and salaries paid in the United States. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Nonprofit Almanac 2007 (Forthcoming). Preliminary estimate based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis) In addition to these organizations an estimated 377,640 congregations currently serve their communities in the United States. (Source: American Church Lists 2006, http://list.infousa.com/acl.htm) Public Charity Finances In 2004, public charities reported nearly $1.1 trillion in total revenues and just over $1.0 trillion in total expenses. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004) Of the nearly $1.1 trillion in total revenues, 23 percent came from contributions, gifts and grants and 71 percent came from program service revenues, which include government fees and contracts. The remaining 6 percent came from "other" sources including dues, rental income, special event income, and gains or losses from goods sold. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004) Public charities reported $1.9 trillion in total assets in 2004. (Source: The Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, Core Files 2004) Volunteering and Charitable Giving Approximately 28.8 percent of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered through or for an organization in 2005. This proportion has remained relatively constant since 2003 after a slight increase from 27.4 percent to 28.8 percent in 2003. (Source: Current Population Survey, September 2005 Supplement found at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.toc.htm) Charitable contributions by individuals, foundations and corporations reached $248.52 billion in 2004, an increase of 2.3 percent from 2003 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2005) Individuals gave $187.92 billion in 2004, an increase of 1.4 percent from 2003 after adjusting for inflation. (Source: Giving USA 2005) In 2004, religious organizations received the largest proportion of charitable contributions, with 35.5 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations. (Source: Giving USA 2005) Educational institutions received the second largest percentage of charitable contributions, with 13.6 percent of total estimated contributions going to these organizations (Source: Giving USA 2005). Contributions to human service organizations, which accounted for 7.7 percent of total estimated contributions, declined for a third year in a row, dropping by an inflation-adjusted 1.1 percent in 2004. (Source: Giving USA 2005) Foundation Giving According to the Foundation Center, foundations gave $40.7 billion in 2006, an increase of 11.7% from the $36.4 billion given in 2005. (Source: The Foundation Center) In 2005, education received the largest share of foundation giving (24.0% of the total), while human services received the largest percentage of grants (26.0%). (Source: The Foundation Center)


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