Some interesting facts about US Philanthropy

• 89 percent of American households contribute to charities or religious institutions
• According to the Charity Navigator blog, total giving to charitable organizations was $303.74 billion in 2009 (about 2% of GDP). The US official aid budget it less than one-tenth of this (0.2% of GDP).
• Religious institutions receive the most charitable contributions (33% of all donations) followed by the educational sector (13%)
• Every time the Standard and Poor’s 500 stock index drops 100 points, charitable giving declines by $1.85 billion
• Warren Buffet became the biggest philanthropist when he donated $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (initial value of the gift)
• The U.S. is one of the few countries to allow givers a tax deduction for charitable donations