The Commons: “The Exodus of Everyday Donors Is Bad for America. Here’s How to Stop It.”

From The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 23, 2024:

During my many years working in the nonprofit and philanthropic communities, I have come to deeply appreciate the everyday donor — regular folks who give via credit cards, checks, “donate” buttons, and collection-jar coins. They typically give in amounts that don’t make headlines, but collectively their generosity powers our work. 

Which is why we should be worried about the decline in the number of individuals who donate. In the United States, the share of households giving to charity has dropped from two-thirds to less than half. It’s possible people are making gifts of time and treasure outside of the 501(c)(3) structure. I believe humans are inherently generous. Still, the fact that fewer Americans support our causes represents a threat to our work and the common good.

It also represents a threat to democracy itself. Donations are a civic expression, a tangible investment in an individual’s hopes and vision for the country. Just as lagging voter turnout and deepening political polarization suggest atrophy of our will to civically engage, advocate, and even dream of a better America, so, too, does declining support for charity.

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darryll k. jones