35 In-Kind Giving & Grant Statistics Nonprofits Should Know
In-Kind Giving Statistics
General In-Kind Giving Statistics
- U.S. donors (including individuals, businesses, and government agencies) contribute roughly $58 billion in-kind to domestic and international nonprofits each year.⁴
- Nearly 68% of the total $58 billion in-kind donation comes from individual volunteering, primarily with local organizations.⁴
- The remaining $18 billion is donated in the form of goods, with the majority of these donated products supporting causes such as fighting hunger, job training, rehabilitation, international relief, and development programs.
- Individuals and community groups contribute the largest percentage of in-kind donations, donating products such as packaged food, books, clothing, or school supplies.⁵
- Individual taxpayers donate nearly $12 billion each year in the form of donations of used clothing and household items.⁶
Individual In-Kind Giving Statistics
- 81% of donors contribute food or other goods to nonprofits through in-kind donations.¹
- In 2024, Giving Tuesday saw 12.9 million people donate goods.²
- Silent Generation donors are more likely to give in-kind donations than donors of other generations.³
- In-kind donations are on the rise for health-related organizations, increasing by 61% with an estimated $170 million in value. ⁴
Corporate In-Kind Giving Statistics
- Companies reported that more than 28% of their total charitable contributions were in forms other than cash donations.⁴
- Giving by corporations, which includes cash and in-kind contributions made through corporate giving programs, as well as grants and gifts made by corporate foundations, is estimated to have increased by 3.4%, totaling $29.48 billion. This is also the fastest-growing giving source.⁴
- Companies donate approximately $4.1 billion each year in the form of in-kind goods and services.⁷
Nonprofit Grant Statistics
General Grant Statistics
- Grants comprise 19% of all charitable giving.¹³
- It takes an average of two years and four months before a nonprofit receives its first grant.¹²
- The median grant award is $35,000.¹⁰
- The total number of grant-making foundations has grown dramatically over the past 15 years, rising from 47,000 to 84,000.¹⁰
- 91% of survey respondents submitted at least one grant application the previous year. Of that group, 88% received at least one grant award.¹¹
- At least one award was received by 90% of respondents who submitted three to five grant applications and 98% of those who submitted six to ten applications.¹¹
- According to grant-seeking organizations, successfully receiving grants is made more difficult by…¹¹
- Organizational staff and time limitations (24%)
- Increased funder practices and requirements (15%)
- Difficulty in finding grant opportunities that match with specific missions, locations, or programs (14%)
- Competition for finite monies (9%)
- Building funder relationships (8%)
- 51% of respondents reported grant funding as comprising 25% or less of their annual budget.¹¹
- Larger organizations continuously report larger grant amounts. Median total awards ranged from $14,500 for small organizations to over $2.8 million for extra-large or enterprise-level organizations.¹²
- Award sizes varied by organizational mission focus. The median size of the largest individual award ranged from $25,000 for animal-related organizations to $1.5 million for educational institutions.¹²
- Private foundations (78%), community foundations (71%), and corporations (57%) were the most frequently cited sources of grant awards.¹²
Foundation Grant Statistics
- The top three grantmaking foundations are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Lilly Endowment.⁸
- There are over 86,000 grantmaking entities, with 92% represented by independent foundations.⁸
- Foundations represent 17% of the total charitable giving.⁹
- 119,000 foundations award more than $77 billion in grants each year.
- 78% of survey respondents received awards from private foundations, with private foundations most frequently being cited as the largest source of total funding (30%) and the source of the largest award (30%).¹¹
- Giving by foundations, which includes grants made by independent, community, and operating foundations, reached $90.9 billion in a year.¹²
Corporate Grant Statistics
- Corporations represent 3% of grant funding and 17% of non-governmental grant funding.⁹
- The top three corporate foundations by giving amount are: 1) Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc.; 2) Wells Fargo Foundation; 3) Wal-Mart Foundation, Inc.⁸
- Corporate gifts of products or services were reported by 27% of respondents.
- 8% of respondents reported corporate grants as the largest source of total funding.¹²
Government Grant Statistics
- 40% of survey respondents stated that their organizations receive Federal funding on a regular basis, and 36% stated that they received Federal funding the previous year.¹¹
- Among government funders, state funding sources (50%) were reported more frequently than local (43%) and Federal (40%) funding sources.¹¹
Wrapping Up & Further Reading
Understanding the landscape of in-kind giving and grant funding is crucial for nonprofits looking to maximize their impact. The statistics we’ve explored highlight key trends in donor behavior, corporate philanthropy, and the increasing role of in-kind contributions in nonprofit sustainability.
By leveraging data-driven approaches, nonprofits can identify opportunities for growth, enhance donor engagement, and streamline resource allocation. Whether securing grants, fostering corporate relationships, or encouraging in-kind support, staying informed on these trends will empower your organization to make more strategic, impactful decisions.
Maximizing In-Kind Gifts for Nonprofits
In-kind gifts are essential for nonprofit fundraising and operations. Explore our guide to learn everything you need to know about making the most of the goods and services available to you.
What to Know About Corporate Grants
Corporate grants can be a significant funding source for nonprofit organizations like yours. Learn the ins and outs of company-sponsored grant-seeking and more with this complete guide!
Developing a Workplace Giving Plan
Workplace giving makes up a significant portion of corporate philanthropy. Learn how you can make the most of the opportunity by developing a detailed workplace fundraising plan.
Sources
[1] Double the Donation’s Nonprofit Fundraising Statistics
[2] Giving Tuesday’s 2024 Results
[3] Donorbox’s Nonprofit Statistics
[4] University at Albany’s In Kind or In Cash? Study
[5] NPOInfo’s Charitable Giving Statistics
[6] Convergent Nonprofit’s Unpacking the 2024 Giving USA Report
[7] Georgia Institute of Technology’s In-Kind Donation Practices, Challenges, and Strategies
