Charitable Giving Path to 3%: What the Data Says

Quote from Scott Brighton, CEO of Bonterra

For decades, one measure of generosity in the United States has remained remarkably stable: Charitable giving, combined with the economic value of volunteering, has hovered at roughly 2.5% of GDP. While its contributions are undeniable, this plateau raises a necessary question in a moment defined by rising needs, economic volatility, and the erosion of trust in legacy institutions: What would it take to move this metric forward?

A $155 billion opportunity

At the center of Bonterra’s 3% by 2033 initiative is the goal of widespread, cross-sector impact and uplift by growing charitable giving and volunteering to 3% of US GDP over the next seven years. Half a percentage point alone would unlock more than $155 billion in additional resources each year for communities across the country, enough to cover the full cost of universal Pre-K nationwide or supply 39 million meals to hungry families.

According to our 2026 Impact Report, reaching this milestone would require generosity to grow by about 57% over the next nine years, or roughly 5.1% annually.

Ambitious? Yes. Abstract? Not at all.

Drawing on two surveys conducted by Hanover Research across 345 nonprofit and philanthropic leaders as well as 496 US-based respondents between the ages of 25 and 65 who had donated to or volunteered with an NPO within the past 12 months, we offer a detailed look at what is helping generosity grow, what is holding it back, and where the most promising levers for progress already exist.

We also ask and answer the practical question of what it will take to get this done.

From ambitious, attainable goals to co-creating change

One of the clearest findings in the report is that lack of belief is not a barrier to this strategic plan.

Among those who are aware of the 3% by 2033 goal, 80% of individual donors and 65% of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders believe it is feasible. The challenge is that awareness and coordination haven’t caught up.

Too often, the sector frames philanthropic stagnation as if the public has become less generous or less engaged. But the data suggests something more nuanced: People are open to a larger vision for generosity, but the field still lacks the shared visibility, uniform alignment, and structured pathways needed to translate belief into action. The problem is not so much about motivation as it is about systemic and technological infrastructure.

As our report makes clear, moving toward 3% will depend on “millions of commitments and contributions across thousands of communities” and a rethinking of how organizations engage supporters, how funders structure capital investments, and how individuals participate.

If awareness is one barrier, trust and clarity are others.

Donors aren’t disengaged; they’re simply more discerning about where and how they give, by demanding stronger evidence that their giving and participation matter.

43% of donors and volunteers say they would be more likely to give if they had clearer proof of impact.

55% want the ability to track the return on their donations or volunteer time.

75% of stakeholders say evidence of measurable impact is one of the most effective ways to drive support for a mission.

Growth is increasingly tied to experience design. That is, how organizations communicate outcomes, reduce friction, and help supporters see the connection between their actions and community-level results. The same logic applies to multi-year efforts like 3% by 2033.

91% of donors and volunteers say caring for communities is essential to America’s future.

43% say they cannot afford to give more money right now, and 77% say they would volunteer if they were unable to donate financially.

29% say they want more opportunities that fit their schedules, while 28% want more flexible ways to give and easier ways to participate.

In 2026 and beyond, the question we should be asking is not how we can increase giving volume. Instead, let us imagine how we might make impact more visible, more credible, and easier to understand. And because supporters want flexible and accessible ways to engage, the next phase of development won’t come from louder, more frequent appeals, but from stronger, better-designed systems for participation at scale.

Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway is that the path to 3% is not hypothetical, with many innovations and interventions already demonstrating remarkable results. Across the social sector, the data consistently points to a set of reinforcing dynamics, including:

Capacity-building investments generating outsized returns

Donor personalization significantly improving fundraising performance

Well-designed systems converting episodic engagement into sustained participation

Take Bonterra Jumpstart, a capacity-building program for nonprofits, as an example. Last year, 40 funder partners invested $1,048,600 and helped 214 nonprofits generate $7.8 million in increased revenue, a 7.4x philanthropic return on investment. This success underscores that large-scale, targeted impact is achievable when coordinated well.

Just as important, technology is playing a central role in enabling this synergy. When implemented responsibly, it strengthens trust, expands reach, and removes friction from the giving experience — making it easier for people to move from intention to action.

Together, these shifts demonstrate that growth is not driven by any single tactic, but by how effectively organizations align strategy, tools, and supporter experience.

The task ahead

The $155 billion opportunity before us is transformational. And yet, reaching 3% by 2033 won’t require a sweeping cultural shift to convince people to care about their communities. They already do. What we need now is a structural advancement in how generosity is activated, measured, and sustained.

Historically, the social sector has optimized for activity: more campaigns, more asks, more outreach. But this moment calls for something else: better coordination, clearer evidence of impact, flexible participation pathways, and improved systems that turn intention into support.

That is how generosity grows. That is how participation deepens.

And here’s the good news: Progress is possible because progress is happening right now.

With your help, we can turn this vision into a shared movement for change. The result of millions of people choosing to show up for their communities, and organizations having the systems they need to make every dollar, hour, and act of generosity count. When supporters can see their impact, trust the pathway, and participate in ways that fit their everyday lives, generosity compounds.

Explore the full report to see how these charitable giving statistics are surfacing across nonprofits and funders, as well as practical steps organizations can take right now to start building a future where community care is not the exception, but the expectation.