Fundraising Guide
2026 Charitable Giving Trends: Which Causes Are Growing
Compare verified fundraising campaigns and NGOs on FundTracker. Real-time trust scores, funding data, and donor guides for smarter giving.
By Deepak Meena
Lead Data Analyst at FundTracker
Giving USA's 2026 report on US charitable giving shows growth across most sectors, but with meaningfully different rates depending on cause area — useful context for donors deciding where their contribution might have room to make a larger relative difference.
Where giving grew the most
According to Giving USA 2026, the largest inflation-adjusted growth came in education, public-society benefit organizations, and environmental and animal welfare organizations. Giving to religious organizations remained the largest single category by total dollars but grew more modestly, while giving to grantmaking foundations declined.
A note on giving as a share of income
Despite overall dollar growth, individual giving as a share of disposable personal income has actually declined over the past two decades, from peak levels around 2.4% in the early 2000s to roughly 1.7% more recently. This suggests that overall growth in giving dollars is partly a function of a larger economy, not necessarily more generous individual giving relative to income.
What this means for donors
Sectors receiving less relative growth in funding — grantmaking foundations, for instance — are not necessarily less deserving, and a smaller-funded cause area is not automatically evidence of lower quality organizations within it. Donors motivated by causes outside the fastest-growing categories should not interpret slower sector growth as a signal to avoid those causes.
Use aggregate trend data as context, not as a ranking
These figures describe overall sector-level giving patterns, not the quality or effectiveness of individual organizations within each sector. A well-run organization in a slower-growing cause area may still be a better choice than a poorly run organization in a fast-growing one — sector-level trends and individual organization evaluation are separate questions.
FundTracker tracks verified NGO campaigns with trust scores across cause areas. Compare organizations by category on our NGO rankings page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a strong fundraising campaign?
A strong campaign explains the goal clearly, shows how funds will be used, shares the amount already raised, and provides enough context to judge urgency. Campaigns tied to real NGO profiles and recurring updates usually deserve more trust than vague one-paragraph appeals.
How do I verify a fundraising organization before donating?
Check whether the organization publishes audited financial statements, has a verified registration, and shows clear program spending. FundTracker trust scores surface these signals automatically across GlobalGiving campaigns so you can compare before committing.
Related NGOs
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Oregon
Trust score: N/A
NAMI Oregon provides mental health education, support groups, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness in Oregon.
- The Center for Art New Ventures and Sustainable Development
Trust score: N/A
CANVAS uses arts and culture to promote sustainable development and community empowerment in developing countries.
- Community Health Housing and Social Education
Trust score: N/A
CHHASE provides integrated community development services including health, housing, and education support to vulnerable communities.
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