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10. Charitable solicitations highlights 2018
Contributions received by registered charities with 2017 fiscal year end
Based on overall financial reports filed by charities before November 30, 2018, with a reporting period ending any time between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017. 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 11,633 | Total in millions 96,002 | High in millions 3,078 | Average in millions 8.3 | Low in millions 0 |
| Colorado-based charities | Charity count 7,321 | Total in millions 4.7 | High in millions 187 | Average in millions 0.6 | Low in millions 0 |
Results of solicitation campaign financial reports filed in 2018
| Total gross proceeds | $708,547,281 |
| Total net proceeds to charities | $593,275,215 |
| Percentage of total gross proceeds to charity | 83.7% |
| Solicitation campaign reports filed | 372 |
| Paid solicitors listed on campaign reports | 61 |
| Charities listed on campaign reports | 262 |
Note about 2018 data on solicitation campaigns:
The 83.7% ratio of net proceeds to charity seems excellent at first glance, yet if two unique solicitation campaigns conducted on behalf of Network for Good, Inc. ($394 million gross) and The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust ($149 million gross) are subtracted from the totals, the overall percent to charity drops to 40.4%. These are very large donor advised funds that retain 98% and 95%, respectively, of the gross funds raised.
Giving USA 2018 report highlights
This frequently quoted annual study shows the sources of funding for charities nationally in 2017.
| Source | $ in billions | % of total | % change from 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals | Individual $ in billions 282.65 | Individual % of total 70% | Individual % change from 2016 +5.2% |
| Foundations | Foundations $ in billions 66.90 | Foundations % of total 16% | Foundations % change from 2016 +6.0% |
| Bequests | Bequests $ in billions 35.7 | Bequests % of total 9% | Bequests % change from 2016 +2.3% |
| Corporations | Corporations $ in billions 20.77 | Corporations % of total 5% | Corporations % change from 2016 +8.0% |
| All Americans | All Americans $ in billions 410.02 | All Americans % of total 100% | All Americans % change from 2016 +5.2% |
Source: Giving USA is Giving USA is Giving USA 2018: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2017, www.givingusa.org.