Both overall giving and the average gift amount increased in 2021, a report from the Blackbaud Institute, a research division of the cloud software company Blackbaud, finds.

Based on an analysis of giving data from 8,635 nonprofit organizations, which raised a total of $46.4 billion in fundraising revenue, the 2021 Charitable Giving Report found that giving increased by 9 percent on a year-over-year basis and 19 percent over the last three years. The report also found that the overall average gift amount increased 10 percent from 2020, with an average donation amount of $813.

According to the report, online giving also grew 9 percent in 2021, showing a three-year increase of 42 percent; and 28 percent of online contributions were made from a mobile device. Indeed, all giving subsectors showed growth in 2021, with giving to environmental organizations growing the most, at 19.3 percent, followed by arts and culture organizations, which saw an increase of 15.2 percent.

“While the world adjusted to a new normal, the growth in giving in 2021 exceeded nearly everyone’s expectations,” said Steve MacLaughlin, vice president of product management at Blackbaud and senior advisor to the Blackbaud Institute. “The return of some events and continued interest in online giving drove growth, with incredible resiliency from nonprofits and endurance from donors. Not only did both overall giving and online giving grow, but the average donor was more generous than ever.”

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