Global cross-border philanthropy totaled $70 billion in 2020, a report from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI finds.

Now in its 11th edition and based on data from 47 countries, the 2023 Global Philanthropy Tracker (104 pages, PDF) found that cross-border charitable giving by individuals, foundations, corporations, and other philanthropic organizations in 2020 accounted for 8 percent of the $841 billion in total capital flows, which also included $590 billion in remittances, $180 billion in official development assistance (ODA), and $400 million in private capital investment.

According to the report, philanthropic giving showed resilience despite multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, declining just 0.5 percent from 2018 levels (in inflation-adjusted 2020 dollars). Remittances increased 19 percent as migrants sent more money home to support their families during the pandemic, and ODA declined just 1 percent, while private capital investment, which totaled $112 billion in 2018, was decimated by the global economic fallout.

Philanthropic outflows from the five low-income and lower-middle-income countries in the analysis grew 11 percent from 2018, to $42 million, driven entirely by India’s increase from $9 million to $13 million. And while Nigeria gave more abroad ($22 million), Kenya ($5 million) contributed the largest share of gross national income (GNI). By contrast, philanthropic outflows from the 10 upper-middle-income countries dropped 31 percent, due mainly to the 46 percent decline in outflows from Turkey, which still gave the most ($402 million) in that group, followed by China ($103 million), which increased its giving fivefold. Among high-income countries, the United States topped the list with $49.3 billion and 0.23 percent of GNI, followed by the United Kingdom ($5.95 billion, 0.22 percent).

“The Global Philanthropy Tracker provides a holistic picture of the global community that is rarely depicted publicly. Private capital investment represents the role of financial markets, ODA is from the government, remittances are from family, and philanthropy is about helping strangers,” said Amir Pasic, the Eugene R. Tempel Dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “These are the resource-based bonds we form across borders to address problems and support people beyond our own countries. The 2023 GPT’s findings reflect the enduring commitment to helping others that is a foundational element of all cultures around the world.”

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