150 Nonprofit Statistics (2026)

Q: What percentage of the U.S. economy is nonprofit?

The nonprofit sector represents 5.7% of the U.S. GDP as of 2024.

Q: What is the estimated value of volunteer time?

The estimate for the value of a volunteer hour was $36.14 in 2025, a 3.9% increase from 2024.

The nonprofit sector employs 12.8M Americans and generated $592.5B in giving in 2024. This data-backed report covers governance, fundraising, volunteering, and sector trends.

Methodology Note: This report compiles verified statistics from primary sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Giving USA Foundation, Independent Sector, the Urban Institute, and government agencies. Data reflects the most recent available figures (primarily 2022–2025). Every statistic is sourced, dated, and hyperlinked. This is an educational reference; it is not legal or compliance advice. Part of our nonprofit statistics hub.

Key Takeaways

1,800,000Registered Nonprofits in U.S.

12,800,000Nonprofit Employees

$592.5BTotal U.S. Giving (2024)

28.3%U.S. Adults Volunteering

The Nonprofit Sector at a Glance

The United States has approximately 1.8 million registered nonprofit organizations, including roughly 1.3 million 501(c)(3)s. In 2024, there were over two million nonprofit organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service, reflecting ongoing growth and the sector's expanding role in American civic life.

In 2022, over 300,000 nonprofit establishments accounted for 12.8 million jobs, or 9.9 percent of all private-sector jobs. Nonprofits employ over 10% of the US private workforce – 12.5 million people – and spend more than $670 billion on wages, with an additional $65 billion going to federal payroll taxes. More frequently-released household survey data like that from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey have found that over 14 million people worked for nonprofits in 2023.

As of the third quarter of 2026, the nonprofit sector contributed an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy and represents 5.7% of the U.S. GDP. For the first time, nonprofit employment now equals manufacturing. Retail trade and accommodation and food services are the only U.S. industries that employ more people than nonprofits.

Charitable Giving Trends

Individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $592.50 billion to U.S. charities in 2024, with total giving growing 6.3% in current dollars, reaching a new high. A strong stock market and GDP growth helped fuel the increase in total giving, which was led by individual and corporate giving.

Individual Giving (66.7%) $392.5B

Corporate Giving (7.5%) $44.4B

Foundation Giving (18.5%) $109.8B

Bequest Giving (7.7%) $45.8B

In 2024, the largest source of charitable giving came from individuals, who gave $392.45 billion, representing 66.7% of total giving. In 2024, corporate giving reached the highest point in GivingUSA's records, accounting for a 9.1% increase over the previous year.

Four of nine subsectors reached their all-time highs in 2024, even when adjusted for inflation: education; health; arts, culture and humanities; and environment/animals. In 2024, the majority of charitable dollars went to religion (23%), human services (14%), education (14%), grantmaking foundations (11%), and public-society benefit (11%).

Workforce & Employment

The nonprofit sector employs about 9% of the U.S. workforce, with 14 million people working in the U.S. nonprofit sector. Nationally, the healthcare and social assistance sector accounted for two-thirds of all nonprofit jobs in 2022.

Region	Nonprofit Employment % of Private Sector
Northeast	15.5%
Midwest	~11%
South	7.6%
West	~10%
National Average	9.9%

84% of respondents with government funding expect cuts to that funding, 86% said high costs due to inflation have impacted their organizations and clients, and over half of survey respondents (52%) have 3 months or less cash on hand. Only 41% of organizations said they're able to pay all full-time staff a living wage, and just 28% of nonprofits with budgets under $250,000 can pay all full-time staff a living wage.

Volunteering & Community Engagement

Over 75.7 million people in the U.S. formally volunteered between September 2022 and September 2023, representing 28.3% of the U.S. population aged 16 and older. Volunteering saw a strong rebound in 2025, with formal participation rising to 28.3% and informal helping surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The value of volunteer time reached $34.79/hour, contributing an estimated $167.2 billion to the U.S. economy, applying this valuation to the 4.99 billion hours volunteered in 2022–2023. Independent Sector announced on April 21, 2026 that the estimate for the value of a volunteer hour was $36.14 in 2025 — a 3.9% increase from 2024.

Gen X has the highest formal volunteering rate of any generation, at 27.2%. Millennials posted some of the strongest gains in 2025, and Gen Z is highly active in virtual, hybrid, and skills-based roles. They volunteer differently, not less.

ACCP's 2025 CSR Insights Survey found that 61% of CSR professionals reported increased employee participation in workplace volunteer programs, marking the third consecutive year of growth since historic lows during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey found that 77% of companies reported increased workplace volunteerism in 2024, representing a substantial year-over-year jump.

Nonprofit Financial Health & Funding Challenges

36% ended 2024 with an operating deficit, the highest in 10 years of NFF's survey data. Nonprofit CEOs report more difficulty obtaining foundation funding than in previous years, with many saying it's been harder to secure foundation grants since January 2025.

Charitable giving proved resilient in 2025 despite a cooling economy, with the typical nonprofit organization seeing revenue growth of approximately 4.3% year over year, powered by a strong finish in end-of-year giving. However, growth was concentrated among organizations and donors with greater capacity. Large organizations and mid-to-major gifts experienced gains, while small organizations and sub $1,000 giving lagged or declined in 2025.

More than one third of annual revenue (36%) arrived in Q4, with December consistently the most important month. Q4 remains the dominant engine of annual fundraising totals. In 2024, over $3.6 billion was donated on Giving Tuesday by 36.1 million people in the United States alone.

Donor Demographics & Behavior

Individuals aged 56 to 75 are the most generous, with 60% of baby boomers contributing to charity. However, Gen Z is catching up, with 57% of those aged 18 to 24 donating to charitable causes.

Millennials made up 21.8% of the US population in 2024, with 84% giving to charity, averaging $481 annually across 3.3 organizations in 2023. Many also commit through recurring programs, with 40% enrolled in monthly giving.

Donating to religious groups is at its lowest level in Gallup's trend, while volunteering for nonreligious organizations has reached a majority for the first time, with reports of volunteering for nonreligious groups rising eight points since 2021 to 55%.

Sector Burnout & Retention Challenges

Research indicates that 45% of nonprofit employees plan to seek new jobs, with key issues including low compensation, limited opportunities for career advancement, and organizational management challenges. Notably, 25% of departing employees indicate they are unlikely to pursue new roles within the nonprofit sector.

The nonprofit sector is powered by a 12.4 million-strong workforce that is majority female-led and delivers staggering societal value, yet is nonetheless grappling with a painful paradox: it is growing and essential yet persistently undervalued, as seen in its 10% wage gap and chronic retention struggles despite increased DEI efforts.

1 in 5 nonprofit workers live in households experiencing financial hardship, and 68% of nonprofits expect demand for their services to increase in the next year. This creates a sustainability challenge as organizations struggle to meet rising demand with constrained budgets and staffing.

What This Means for Your Volunteer Program

The 2026 data is clear: nonprofits are under pressure. Funding is tighter, demand for services is rising, and the best people are leaving. At the same time, volunteering has rebounded—28.3% of Americans are actively helping—but they expect flexibility, impact measurement, and strong management.

If your organization screens and onboards volunteers, you already know that trustworthiness matters. Background checks aren't bureaucracy—they're the foundation of risk management and donor confidence. VolunteerBadge offers $5 FCRA-compliant background checks with identity verification—no monthly fees, no contracts. Our screening solution integrates directly into your volunteer intake, so you stay compliant while building the safest possible program.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many nonprofits are there in the United States in 2026?
A: Approximately 1.8 million registered nonprofit organizations, including roughly 1.3 million 501(c)(3)s. This count includes all tax-exempt organizations registered with the IRS, though many smaller organizations with under $5,000 in annual revenue are not required to register.

Q: What percentage of the U.S. economy is nonprofit?
A: The nonprofit sector represents 5.7% of the U.S. GDP. The contribution of nonprofits to GDP as of the fourth quarter of 2024 was 5.3 percent, just under the prepandemic share of approximately 5.5 percent.

Q: How much did Americans give to charity in 2024?
A: Individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $592.50 billion to U.S. charities in 2024, with total giving growing 6.3% in current dollars. Donations to U.S. charities in 2025 reached an estimated $617.20 billion, a new high.

Q: What is the estimated value of volunteer time?
A: Independent Sector announced on April 21, 2026 that the estimate for the value of a volunteer hour was $36.14 in 2025 — a 3.9% increase from 2024. This figure is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

Q: Are nonprofits struggling financially?
A: Yes. 36% ended 2024 with an operating deficit, the highest in 10 years of NFF's survey data. Additionally, only 41% of organizations said they're able to pay all full-time staff a living wage, and nonprofit CEOs report more difficulty obtaining foundation funding than in previous years.

Q: How has volunteering recovered since the pandemic?
A: Strong recovery. Over 75.7 million people formally volunteered between September 2022 and September 2023, representing 28.3% of the U.S. population aged 16 and older, a five-point increase that brings volunteerism close to pre-pandemic levels.

Sources & References

Report Changelog

First published: July 6, 2026
Last updated: July 6, 2026

This is a living report. We refresh nonprofit sector statistics annually each July with the latest available data from government agencies, research institutions, and established benchmarks. If data methodology or definitions change materially, we note it here. This report is educational and informational only and should not be construed as legal, compliance, or professional advice. Organizations should consult qualified professionals for guidance on governance, screening, and regulatory matters.