2025 brought a mixed picture for the U.S. economy. The stock market ended the year with double-digit gains, but inflation had not fully faded—leaving prices for everyday essentials like groceries and utilities elevated and many households still feeling squeezed. Still, many Americans found room in their budget to give to others.
U.S. charitable giving reached a record $617.2 billion in 2025, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
