Charitable giving and philanthropy have long been central to conceptions of American national identity, understood since the nation’s founding to be vital to the maintenance of a robust civil society and of democratic life. From mutual aid networks to community foundations and digital crowdfunding, Americans have consistently turned to voluntary giving to meet shared needs and express shared values. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, this tradition of charitable giving invites both celebration and honest examination as it maintains deep continuities and experiences profound changes. The past decade has brought significant pressure to bear on the landscape of giving: Shifting tax policy has altered incentives for everyday donors, public funding gaps have increased need, and declining institutional trust has changed where and how people choose to give. At the same time, new models of collective and community-led giving are emerging in response.Â
As part of its 30th anniversary, the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy brings together researchers, philanthropic leaders, policymakers, and sector infrastructure actors to examine the evolving landscape of charitable giving and philanthropy in its fifth Giving Innovation Summit. As part of this convening, we will explore the evolution of the infrastructure of everyday and collective giving, probe the policy pressures reshaping charitable behavior today, and examine how the charitable and philanthropic sectors are responding to widening gaps in public funding. Together, we will ask what these transformations mean for the future of giving in America.Â
