Year-End Charitable Giving on the Decline as Americans Prioritize Spending

Mon Dec 22 2025 16:23:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A new AP-NORC poll reveals that most Americans are not planning end-of-year charitable donations, highlighting financial constraints amidst economic pressures. While nonprofits hope for December boosts, many donors are opting for other spending priorities.

According to an AP-NORC survey, the majority of Americans have already completed their charitable donations for 2025, with significant financial pressures leading many to forgo giving altogether. Only a small percentage of adults plan to make additional contributions before the year's end, as factors like inflation and competing spending priorities dampen contributions. December remains a crucial month for nonprofits hoping to meet their annual fundraising goals.

NEW YORK (AP) — A recent poll conducted by AP-NORC indicates that a significant portion of Americans are not planning to make end-of-year charitable contributions. This trend poses a significant challenge for nonprofits that depend on increased fundraising during December to reach their budget targets.

As the survey suggests, roughly half of U.S. adults report they have already completed their charitable donations for 2025. Only 18% of respondents indicated they have contributed and plan to give again before the year ends, while just 6% stated they have not yet donated but will do so by December 31. An alarming 30% admitted they have neither donated nor plan to, highlighting shifting priorities among potential donors.

This year, many Americans are facing competing expenses, including rising inflation and hefty costs associated with social services, which have overshadowed charitable giving. The aftermath of federal funding cuts, particularly concerning SNAP benefits this past November, alongside disaster recovery efforts, has created a more urgent backdrop that may influence donations.

Even as tax incentives aimed at encouraging philanthropy exist, such as new deductions introduced this year for individual and married couples, lower-income households are feeling the strain, resulting in diminished capacity to support charitable initiatives.

According to Dianne Chipps Bailey, managing director at Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions, the last month of the year remains vital; estimates suggest that a third of annual donations occur in December. Donors view December 31 as a deadline to fulfill their charitable intentions before the year’s conclusion.

GivingTuesday, marked as an important day for fundraising, has also seen Americans leaning more towards consumer spending, with nearly half reporting purchases on Black Friday compared to only about 10% contributing to charities on GivingTuesday.

Despite these challenges, some individuals continue to seek out charitable opportunities, with many indicating they are comfortable rounding up donations at point-of-sale checkouts at various retail outlets.

As life continues financially challenging, the landscape for charitable giving remains uncertain. Yet, some individuals, like 69-year-old architect Chuck Dietrick, continue to contribute to causes meaningful to them and consider various organizations, revealing diverse approaches to philanthropy amid tightening budgets.