WASHINGTON, D.C.— Charitable Giving Coalition Chair Brian Flahaven issued the following statement in recognition of Giving Tuesday:
Today, the Charitable Giving Coalition joins the entire charitable sector in celebrating the tenth annual Giving Tuesday. This important day kicks off the year-end season of giving, during which generous Americans provide charitable organizations of all sizes and in all communities with a substantial portion of the resources they need to carry out their critical missions.
As the most charitable nation in the world, Americans give billions of dollars to support the charitable sector every year. However, inflation-adjusted charitable giving declined in 2021, and the number of donors continues to decline as well.
Throughout the year, the need for nonprofit services has increased as more Americans face economic uncertainty and our nation’s charities respond to natural disasters. Furthermore, concerns about inflation are causing some donors to think twice about how much they can give.
The non-itemizer charitable deduction, which ensured that every taxpayer was incentivized in 2020 and 2021 to give to charity, expired at the end of last year. Initial charitable giving data from this year indicates that the number of donors is down in 2022, with the largest declines coming from smaller donors who were eligible to use the non-itemizer deduction before it lapsed.
Generous Americans give for many reasons, but the research is clear that tax incentives encourage them to give more. As the season of giving kicks off, we encourage lawmakers to keep in mind the critical work of nonprofit organizations in their districts and around the country. Renewing the non-itemizer charitable deduction in year-end legislation will help those organizations secure the resources they need to continue to meet the growing need for their services.
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The Charitable Giving Coalition
Representing private and community foundations, their grantees and independent charities, the Charitable Giving Coalition’s members include United Way Worldwide, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA, the American Council on Education, Jewish Federations of North America, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Independent Sector, the Council on Foundations, and United Philanthropy Forum, among others. Formed in 2009, the coalition is dedicated to preserving the charitable giving incentive that ensures that our nation’s charities receive the funds necessary to fulfill their essential philanthropic missions. The coalition provides a unique and unified voice on Capitol Hill on issues affecting the charitable deduction, a voice composed of both direct lobbying and robust grassroots advocacy. www.charitablegivingcoalition.