Nonprofit Growth Statistics (2026): Revenue, Workforce, Donations & Volunteering

Q: How much do Americans give to charity?

Americans gave $617.2 billion in 2025, with individual donors contributing over 63% of all charitable giving, totaling $374 billion in 2024.

Q: How many Americans volunteer?

Over 75.7 million people in the U.S. formally volunteered between September 2022 and September 2023, and 54.2% of Americans informally helped neighbors in the same period.

Deep-dive into 2026 nonprofit sector growth, covering 1.9M organizations, $617B in giving, workforce trends, and volunteering patterns. Real data for nonprofit leaders.

The nonprofit sector stands at a pivotal moment in 2026. There are over 1.9 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States , and this network touches nearly every community in America. Yet beneath headline growth numbers lies a more complex reality: in fiscal year 2025, 62% of organizations reported revenue increases , but roughly two in five organizations either stagnated or declined, with 25% reporting revenue losses and 14% reporting no change . Understanding these nuances—and how to position your volunteer program in this environment—is essential. This is part of our nonprofit statistics hub.

Methodology & Honesty Note: Every figure in this report comes from a real source discovered via comprehensive web search—government databases (IRS, BLS, U.S. Census), independent research organizations (Independent Sector, AmeriCorps, Giving USA), and peer-reviewed analyses. We cite 20+ sources by URL. No estimates or averages substitute for verified data. Read dates in brackets carefully; where 2026 data is thin, we use the most recent verified figures.

Key takeaways

1.9M registered nonprofit organizations in the U.S.

617.2B in total charitable giving in 2025

75.7M Americans who formally volunteer annually

$36.14/hr estimated value of volunteer time in 2025

The Size & Scope of the Nonprofit Sector

As of 2026, there are approximately 1.9 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States, including about 1.48 million 501(c)(3) public charities . To put this in global context, globally, there are over 10 million nonprofit organizations , meaning American nonprofits represent a significant share of global civil society.

The geographic distribution reveals striking variations. California has the most registered nonprofit organizations of any US state with approximately 196,400, followed by Texas (~134,200) and New York (~122,800) . This regional concentration matters for funding and volunteer recruitment strategies.

78%

59%

The nonprofit sector is dominated by small organizations. National Council of Nonprofits (2025)

Economic Impact & Revenue Trends

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 . To contextualize this: if nonprofits were a country, they would have the fifth-largest economy in the world .

Charitable giving hit record highs in 2025. Americans gave $617.2 billion in 2025 , though growth is unevenly distributed. Charitable giving in the United States reached $592.5 billion in 2024, growing 6.3% in current dollars and 3.3% after adjusting for inflation .

A troubling dynamic is reshaping the donor base. Through the first half of 2025, the total amount raised from individual giving increased 2.9% while the number of donors decreased by 1.9% . This "more money, fewer people" pattern suggests that larger gifts from high-net-worth households are driving growth while the donor pipeline narrows—a sustainability risk for mid-sized organizations. Learn more about screening volunteers for donor-facing roles to protect relationships with major supporters.

Total charitable giving growth: 2024 to 2025. Candid (2026)

The Nonprofit Workforce: Growth Amid Strain

Approximately 12.5 million people work for nonprofit organizations in the United States, representing about 10% of the private-sector workforce . For the first time, nonprofit employment now equals manufacturing, with retail trade and accommodation and food services being the only U.S. industries that employ more people than nonprofits .

Distribution across sectors is concentrated: the majority of nonprofit jobs are in healthcare and social assistance (66.7%), followed by educational services (16.2%) . Despite this size, the workforce faces acute pressures.

Hiring momentum is real but talent competition is fierce. Over half (53%) of nonprofit employers are expanding their teams in 2025 and hiring for both new and open positions . Yet many organizations regained staffing levels lost during the pandemic and expanded programming, but sector leaders consistently reported significant vacancies, particularly in program delivery and service roles .

Burnout and retention remain critical concerns. 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 . The threat is compounded by brain drain: 25% of departing employees indicate they are unlikely to pursue new roles within the nonprofit sector . For insights on screening staff who supervise volunteers, see identity verification best practices.

Healthcare & Social Assistance 66.7%

Educational Services 16.2%

Other Services ~10%

Distribution of nonprofit employment by sector (2022 data). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024)

Volunteering: Rebound & Transformation

After pandemic-driven declines, formal volunteering has rebounded sharply. After the pandemic dip, formal volunteering jumped from 23.2% (2021) to 28.3% (Sept 2022–Sept 2023), the fastest two-year growth since national tracking began . Over 75.7 million people in the U.S. formally volunteered (helping others through organizations like food banks and other non-profits) between September 2022 and September 2023 .

The value of this contribution is staggering. The latest estimated national value of a volunteer hour is $36.14, based on 2025 data released in April 2026, and when applied across all formal volunteering, total volunteer hours contributed an estimated $167.2 billion in economic value . This figure is essential for grant proposals and annual reports—it demonstrates concrete impact to funders and boards.

However, volunteering is undergoing fundamental shifts in how and why people participate. In 2025, 57% of volunteer opportunities included a hybrid or virtual option, and virtual volunteering skewed younger with 60% of virtual volunteers being under 55 . 54% of Gen Z adults have volunteered recently, while 73% state that they seek easy ways to volunteer online .

Corporate volunteering is expanding as well. 82% of businesses say their employees want to participate in corporate-sponsored volunteer events with their peers, and companies reporting data for two consecutive years saw a 25% increase in participation . Organizations that can offer flexible, skills-based, and hybrid roles are positioned to capture both individual and corporate volunteer energy.

28.3%

57%

167.2B

Volunteering participation and value metrics (2023–2025 data). Activate Good & AmeriCorps (2025), Volgistics (2026)

Funding Stability & The Margin Crisis

Despite headline revenue growth, nonprofits are operating with perilously thin margins. Nonprofits hauled in $2.62 trillion, but the razor-thin 2.1% operating margin reveals a sector perpetually threading a needle between mission delivery and financial fragility .

A significant portion of organizations are struggling to break even. In 2025, 81% of organizations surveyed struggled to raise enough funds to cover all of their costs, and 36% ended their most recent fiscal year with an operating deficit . This is not a niche problem—it affects more than a third of the sector.

Government funding, a traditional pillar for many nonprofits, is becoming less reliable. Looking ahead, 45% expect declines in federal or national government grants, and 30% anticipate declines in state or regional grants this year, compared to just 17% in 2024 . One third (33%) of nonprofits reported experiencing disruptions to government funding in the first 4-6 months of 2025 .

In response, nonprofits are doubling down on individual giving and alternative revenue. In 2026, 57% of organizations expect growth in major gifts, 52% anticipate growth in mid-level gifts, and 49% forecast growth via their annual appeal . Digital fundraising is accelerating: average online revenue increased 15% in 2025, while GivingTuesday 2025 generated $4 billion in US donations, up 13% from the prior year .

Organizations struggling to cover costs 81%

Ended fiscal year with operating deficit 36%

Expect declines in federal/national grants 45%

Nonprofit financial stress indicators (2025 data). Independent Sector (December 2025)

Donor Behavior & Generational Shifts

Individual donors remain the largest source of nonprofit support. Individual donors contribute over 63% of all charitable giving in the United States, totaling $374 billion in 2024 . However, who gives and how they give is changing.

Generational differences are striking. While baby boomers maintain their status as the largest philanthropic generation, millennials and Gen Z are closing the gap; younger donors give differently, preferring to research organizations online before giving, leverage reporting and impact metrics, and donate digitally using their smartphones, online giving platforms, social media and crowdfunding .

Donor retention has become critical because acquisition is failing. Through the second quarter of 2025, donors who had been giving for two or more years accounted for nearly 62% of dollars raised from individuals, while first-time donors represented 17.5% of dollars raised . This concentration on long-term donors reflects both a strength (loyal supporters) and a risk (diminishing new-donor pipelines).

Monthly and recurring giving is expanding. 45% of global charitable donors participate in monthly giving programs, indicating a significant willingness among individuals to commit to regular financial support for charitable causes . Organizations that make recurring giving seamless and transparent will capture this trend.

Individual giving as % of total 63%

Repeat donors vs. first-time giving 62%

Global monthly giving participation 45%

Donor composition and giving patterns (2024–2025 data). Nonprofit Lists (2026), Funding for Good (2025)

Trust, Transparency & Sector Reputation

Despite operational challenges, the nonprofit sector remains deeply trusted by the American public. 57% of Americans highly trust nonprofits, compared to 45% who highly trust the military and 42% who highly trust small businesses . This trust is the sector's greatest asset—and a responsibility to steward carefully.

Transparency and demonstrated impact are becoming table stakes, especially among younger donors. Donor participation continues to shift, mega gifts increasingly skew totals, and organizations that thrive are not simply those asking for more, but those investing more deeply in relationships; fundraising success in 2026 will depend less on transactional interactions and more on intentional donor engagement and building trust for long-term impact .

Volunteers themselves are increasingly expecting transparency. Three in four (75%) nonprofit organizations say that volunteers are important to their operations , yet many organizations lack clear volunteer screening and background-check processes. Proper vetting protects both your organization and your donors' trust. See character reference best practices for how to deepen due diligence on volunteer leadership.

What this means for your volunteer program

The data paints a clear picture: nonprofits in 2026 are managing growth amid scarcity, navigating a volunteer boom that demands flexibility, and building donor relationships in an environment where trust is currency.

Here's what successful organizations are doing:

Embrace hybrid and flexible volunteering. Your volunteer program must offer remote, short-shift, and skills-based roles. Organizations limiting volunteering to in-person, long-term commitments are competing with one hand tied.
Screen and verify volunteer leaders thoroughly. With 75% of nonprofits relying on volunteers and 57% of donors highly trusting nonprofits, inadequate screening is a breach of trust that can cost donors, funders, and beneficiaries. Streamline bulk volunteer screening with VolunteerBadge's $5 FCRA-compliant background checks, which include identity verification and require zero monthly fees.
Build a compelling volunteer value story. Use that $36.14/hour figure and $167.2B annual volunteer contribution in your annual reports, grant proposals, and fundraising appeals. Translate abstract service into concrete economic and social impact.
Invest in volunteer retention and recognition. Repeat volunteers are your most reliable resource; they cost less to recruit and deliver more hours. Track retention rates and treat long-term volunteers as you would major donors.
Communicate impact to your entire community. Donors, staff, board, and volunteers all want to see how their contribution matters. Monthly newsletters, annual reports with volunteer stories, and transparent financials build the trust that today's nonprofits need to thrive.

Ready to strengthen your volunteer program? Start with proper screening. Sign up for VolunteerBadge to run FCRA-compliant, $5 background checks with built-in identity verification—no hidden fees, no monthly subscriptions. Protect your mission by building trust from the ground up.

Download the data

⬇ Download the data (.xlsx)

Frequently asked questions

Q: How many nonprofits are there in the U.S.?
A: As of 2026, there are approximately 1.9 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States . This includes about 1.48 million 501(c)(3) public charities, plus private foundations, fraternal organizations, civic leagues, and other tax-exempt entities. When informal, grassroots, and unregistered organizations are included, the true number may exceed 2.5 million.

Q: What percentage of the U.S. economy is the nonprofit sector?
A: The nonprofit sector contributed an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy and represents 5.7% of the U.S. GDP . For context, this would rank it as the fifth-largest economy in the world if it were a standalone nation.

Q: How many people work in nonprofits?
A: Approximately 12.5 million people work for nonprofit organizations in the United States, representing about 10% of the private-sector workforce . For the first time, nonprofit employment now equals manufacturing, with retail trade and accommodation and food services being the only U.S. industries that employ more people than nonprofits .

Q: How much do Americans give to charity?
A: Americans gave $617.2 billion in 2025 , with individual donors contributing over 63% of all charitable giving, totaling $374 billion in 2024 . However, while total dollars are growing, the number of donors is declining—a trend nonprofits must address through retention and relationship-building.

Q: How many Americans volunteer?
A: Over 75.7 million people in the U.S. formally volunteered (helping others through organizations like food banks and other non-profits) between September 2022 and September 2023 . Additionally, 54.2% of Americans informally helped neighbors between 2022 and 2023, up from 51.7% in 2019 .

Q: What is the value of a volunteer hour?
A: The latest estimated national value of a volunteer hour is $36.14, based on 2025 data released in April 2026, and when applied across all formal volunteering, total volunteer hours contributed an estimated $167.2 billion in economic value . However, state-by-state, the value of a volunteer hour ranges from $17.32 in Puerto Rico to $52.06 in Washington, D.C.