SoS home > Charities & fundraisers > 2015 annual report > Table of contents > Charitable solicitations highlights
16. Charitable Solicitations Highlights
Contributions received by registered charities with 2014 fiscal year end
Based on overall financial reports filed by charities before November 30, 2015 with a reporting period ending any time between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Includes charities that used paid solicitors.
| Received by | Charity count | Total $ in millions |
High $ in millions |
Average $ in millions |
Low $ in millions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All charities | Charity count 10,044 | Total $ in millions $79,652 | High $ in millions $3,849 | Average $ in millions $7.9 | Low $ in millions $0 |
| Colorado-based charities | Charity count 6,471 | Total $ in millions $4,239 | High $ in millions $223 | Average $ in millions $0.66 | Low $ in millions $0 |
Results of solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2015
| Total gross proceeds | $472 million |
| Total net proceeds to charities | $382 million |
| Percentage of total gross proceeds to charity | 81% |
| Solicitation campaign reports filed | 498 |
| Paid solicitors listed on campaign reports | 57 |
| Charities listed on campaign reports | 305 |
Note about 2015 data on solicitation campaigns:
The 81% ratio of net proceeds to charity is very high when compared to past years, yet if you subtract two high-dollar campaigns reported by paid solicitors who have unusual arrangements with their charity clients, the overall percent to charity drops to 37.9%.
Eaton Vance Distributors, Inc., who solicits for The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust, reported a $110 million campaign in which 99% of the gross went to the charity. Network for Good reported a $231 campaign in which 97% of the gross went to the charity. These two campaigns accounted for 72% of all gross proceeds reported in 2015, which skewed the percent to charity ratio upward.
Giving USA 2014 report highlights
This frequently quoted annual study shows the sources of funding for charities nationally in 2014.
| Source | $ in billions | % of total | % change from 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals | $ in billions $258.51 | % of total 72% | % change from 2013 5.7% |
| Foundations | $ in billions $53.97 | % of total 15% | % change from 2013 8.2% |
| Bequests | $ in billions $28.13 | % of total 8% | % change from 2013 15.5% |
| Corporations | $ in billions $17.77 | % of total 5% | % change from 2013 13.7% |
| All Americans | $ in billions $358.38 | % of total 100% | % change from 2013 7.1% |
Source: Giving USA is Giving USA 2015: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2014, www.givingusa.org.