26 Incredible Nonprofit Statistics [2026]: How Many Nonprofits Are In The U.S.?

Research Summary. Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in providing essential services for various causes, employing millions of Americans and contributing significantly to the U.S. economy. Over the past decade, the revenue generated by these organizations has seen remarkable growth, reflecting their increasing importance and resilience.

• There are 1.5 million nonprofit organizations operating in the United States.

• Nonprofits employ 10% of the U.S. workforce.

• Globally, nonprofits account for 7.4% of the workforce.

• 70% of the personnel at international nonprofits are paid employees, with 29% serving as volunteers.

• Nonprofits contribute 5.7% to the United States GDP.

• Annual revenue for U.S. nonprofits totals $2.62 trillion.

For further insights, we have categorized the data as follows:
Donations | Revenue | Trends and Projections

General Nonprofit Statistics

• The nonprofit sector ranks as the 3rd largest workforce in the United States, following retail and manufacturing.

• As of the third quarter of 2026, the nonprofit sector contributed an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy.

• The nonprofit sector represents 5.7% of the U.S. GDP.

• Globally, there are over 10 million nonprofit organizations.

Nonprofit Statistics By Donations

• 56% of Americans donated to charity in 2021.

  This marks a 1% increase from pre-pandemic levels of charitable giving. Individuals aged 56 to 75 are the most generous, with 60% of baby boomers contributing to charity. However, Gen Z is catching up, with 57% of those aged 18 to 24 donating to charitable causes.

  

• 45% of global charitable donors participate in monthly giving programs.

  This indicates a significant willingness among individuals to commit to regular financial support for charitable causes.

• Approximately 10% of total nonprofit revenue is generated from individual donations.

  Conversely, 80% of the revenue for U.S. nonprofits arises from government grants or contracts, with 4% coming from foundations.

• Donors report an ability to give up to 20% more due to potential capital gains tax elimination.

  This is relevant considering that 89% of wealth is held in non-cash assets.

• The average age of charitable donors in the U.S. is 64 years.

  Typically, this demographic makes two charitable contributions annually.

• In 2021, the average charitable donation was $574.

  The leading cause for donations that year was food banks, followed by religious organizations, animal welfare, pandemic recovery efforts, and racial equity initiatives.

Nonprofit Statistics By Revenue

• 80% of all nonprofit revenue is derived from government grants.

• In 2017, email marketing and promotional campaigns accounted for 28% of all nonprofit revenue.

• The total revenue of nonprofits in the United States was $2.62 trillion as of 2016, reflecting a significant doubling over the past decade.

Nonprofit Statistics By Trends and Projections

• Online giving to nonprofits experienced a 12.1% increase in 2021.

  Donations for environmental and human rights causes saw the highest growth, with environmental contributions rising by 34% and human rights donations increasing by 37%.

• Overall, nonprofit donations have shown a growth rate of 4.1% over the last year.

  This marked 2021 as the sixth consecutive year of growth in U.S. nonprofit donations.

• In 2000, there were 1.26 million nonprofits in the U.S. By 2016, this number grew to 1.54 million.

  This translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.4% for U.S. nonprofits.

  

• In 2000, the revenue for U.S. nonprofits stood at $1.15 trillion, which grew to $2.62 trillion by 2016.

  This indicates a remarkable annual growth rate of 8.4% in nonprofit revenue, significantly outpacing the growth in the number of nonprofit organizations.

  

• As of 2021, approximately 12.3 million jobs were generated by the U.S. nonprofit sector.

  The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of nonprofit employment at 26%, while Nevada holds the lowest at 2.7%.

  Nonprofit Employment By State

  State	Nonprofit as percent of total employment	Total employment	Nonprofit employment
  Vermont	18.8%	254,999	48,014
  Maine	18.0%	508,104	91,369
  New York	17.7%	7,782,407	1,380,931
  Massachusetts	17.7%	3,065,883	542,279
  Rhode Island	16.5%	414,410	68,348
  North Dakota	15.7%	345,688	54,238
  Pennsylvania	15.6%	5,062,672	790,368
  New Hampshire	14.8%	562,809	83,453
  Minnesota	14.8%	2,438,627	360,461
  Montana	14.7%	370,994.0	54,388
  South Dakota	14.6%	347,497	50,842
  Connecticut	14.6%	1,435,521	209,356
  West Virginia	14.0%	546,617	76,432
  Alaska	13.5%	250,255	33,786
  Maryland	12.8%	2,141,805	273,355
  Ohio	12.2%	4,606,685	564,039
  Oregon	12.2%	1,556,370	190,124
  Wisconsin	11.9%	2,447,832	291,393
  Delaware	11.9%	376,028	44,707
  Hawaii	11.6%	525,124	61,057
  Illinois	11.3%	5,112,176	577,876
  Iowa	11.3%	1,302,244	146,935
  Missouri	11.2%	2,340,176	261,914
  Michigan	10.8%	3,686,126	397,128
  Nebraska	10.7%	807,525	86,431
  Indiana	10.0%	2,595,568	259,774
  Washington	9.7%	2,669,295	259,427
  New Jersey	9.6%	3,382,178	323,806
  Kentucky	9.5%	1,566,813	149,597
  Arkansas	9.2%	993,989	91,175
  Virginia	9.0%	3,095,185	277,787
  Kansas	8.4%	1,129,173	94,916
  North Carolina	8.4%	3,565,929	298,462
  New Mexico	8.2%	627,472	51,152
  Arizona	8.1%	2,294,353	186,258
  Louisiana	8.0%	1,599,363	128,721
  Tennessee	8.0%	2,478,737	199,487
  California	7.8%	14,288,358	1,112,268
  Colorado	7.7%	2,146,791	165,311
  Georgia	7.4%	3,619,899	268,612
  Florida	7.2%	7,262,168	521,840
  Idaho	7.1%	572,321	40,466
  Oklahoma	6.7%	1,252,645	84,335
  Utah	6.7%	1,165,414	78,235
  Mississippi	6.4%	888,986	56,883
  Wyoming	6.1%	205,040	12,527
  South Carolina	5.4%	1,651,309	89,729
  Alabama	5.3%	1,555,542	82,861
  Texas	5.1%	9,960,249	506,744
  Nevada	2.7%	1,132,119	30,943

• 64.4 million adults volunteered at nonprofits at least once in 2017, representing 25.1% of the U.S. population.

  The volunteer rate slightly increased in 2017 compared to previous years, although the peak volunteering years were between 2009 and 2011 when 26.8% of the population engaged in volunteer work.

• Research indicates that 45% of nonprofit employees plan to seek new jobs by 2025, highlighting significant burnout within the sector.

  Key issues contributing to this trend include low compensation, limited opportunities for career advancement, and organizational management challenges. Notably, 25% of departing employees indicate they are unlikely to pursue new roles within the nonprofit sector, further emphasizing this trend.

Nonprofit Statistics FAQ

1. How many nonprofits are there in the United States?

   There are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States.

   To put this in context, roughly 10 million nonprofits exist globally, meaning about 15% of the world’s nonprofits are based in the U.S.

2. What percentage of the economy is nonprofit? (including the percentage of companies that are nonprofit)

   Nonprofits represent 5.7% of the U.S. economy. Additionally, 10.2% of companies in the U.S. are classified as nonprofit organizations.

3. What percentage of nonprofits are successful?

   Only about 50% of nonprofits achieve long-term success. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, around 30% of nonprofits fail to survive beyond ten years.

4. Do nonprofits actually make a profit?

   Nonprofits do earn revenue, but their primary goal is not profit generation, which differentiates them from for-profit businesses. Nonprofits require funds to maintain operations, relying on donations while focusing on delivering essential services to the public rather than generating profit. Distributing earnings to private individuals is prohibited for nonprofits, ensuring their focus remains on public interest.

5. Are nonprofits considered in GDP?

   Yes, nonprofits contribute to the U.S. GDP. They account for 5.7% of the total GDP.

6. What is the most recognized nonprofit organization?

   Feeding America is the leading nonprofit organization, addressing domestic needs and receiving $4.06 billion in private donations in 2022. This is followed by United Way Worldwide ($2.77 billion), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($2.34 billion), Salvation Army ($2.34 billion), and Direct Relief ($2.21 billion).

   Most Popular Charities to Donate To 2022

   Nonprofit name	Private donations	Total revenue	Fundraising efficiency	Charitable Commitment
   Feeding America	$4.06B	$4.21B	99%	99%
   United Way Worldwide	$2.77B	$3.89B	88%	85%
   St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital	$2.34B	$2.33B	85%	69%
   Salvation Army	$2.34B	$5.79B	90%	82%
   Direct Relief	$2.21B	$2.22B	100%	100%
   Good 360	$1.68B	$1.69B	100%	100%
   Goodwill Industries International	$1.44B	$7.41B	99%	89%
   YMCA of the USA	$1.41B	$7.44B	90%	84%
   Habitat for Humanity International	$1.27B	$2.13B	88%	83%
   Americares	$1.22B	$1.24B	99%	98%

Conclusion

Nonprofit organizations in the United States are essential for promoting humanitarian causes and serving the community in various capacities, from food banks and homelessness support to medical research and animal welfare.

Over the years, the services provided by these organizations have become increasingly vital. Today, there are approximately 1.5 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States, accounting for about 15% of global nonprofits.

Moreover, these organizations employ 10% of the U.S. workforce, translating to roughly 16 million individuals. This figure is significant, considering that nonprofits contribute 5.7% to the nation’s GDP.

Over the past two decades, the number of nonprofit organizations has grown at a steady rate of 1.4% annually. While this growth is respectable, it pales in comparison to the exponential rise in total nonprofit revenue. In 2000, U.S. nonprofit revenue was recorded at $1.15 trillion.

Nearly two decades later, by 2016, this figure had more than doubled, reaching $2.62 trillion. Given the current economic landscape, it is essential to consider how much revenue nonprofits are generating as we move into 2026.

Nonprofits are designed to prioritize community service over profit-making. However, they also manage substantial financial flows to achieve their missions effectively.

References

1. Candid Learning. How many nonprofit organizations are there in the US? | Knowledge base | Candid Learning. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

2. Independent Sector, The Charitable Sector. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

3. The Nonprofit Times. 7.4% Of World Workforce In Nonprofits. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

4. National Center for Charitable Statistics. The Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2019 | National Center for Charitable Statistics. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

5. Statistica. • US nonprofit organizations: revenues 2016 | Statista. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

6. Blackbaud Institute. Online Giving Trends – Blackbaud Institute. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

7. Philanthropy News Digest. Nonprofits Are America’s Third Largest Employer, Study Finds | Philanthropy news | PND. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

8. Foundation Group. 50 Nonprofit Facts and Statistics. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

9. LendingTree. 56% of Americans Donated to Charity in 2021, at an Average of $574. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

10. Double the Donation. Nonprofit Fundraising Statistics [Updated for 2022]. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

11. The Nonprofit Times. 80% Of Nonprofits’ Revenue Is From Government, Fee For Service. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

12. National Philanthropic Trust. Charitable Giving Statistics – NPTrust. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

13. Philanthropy News Digest. Online giving up more than 20 percent in 2020, report finds. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

14. Statistica. • US nonprofit organizations: number 2016 | Statista. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

15. BLS. Nonprofits account for 12.3 million jobs, 10.2 percent of private sector employment, in 2016: The Economics Daily: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

16. Nanoe. Nonprofits Fail – Here’s Seven Reasons Why. Accessed on March 14, 2022.

17. Forbes. America’s Top 100 Charities. Accessed on March 13, 2023.

18. Independent Sector. Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector Quarterly Review. Accessed on March 13, 2023.

19. Forbes. 45% Of Nonprofit Employees To Seek New Jobs By 2025: Report. Accessed on March 13, 2023.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.