This year’s giving season is supercharged

The Future. ‘Tis the season to give, and that’s exactly what many Americans plan on doing. While 2020 was surprisingly a banner year for selflessness, 2021 is predicted  to be even bigger. The charitable spirit of the past two years may prove a hopeful theory: when society at large is suffering, individuals are compelled to do their small part to help.

Get more, give more
Despite COVID, rising inflation, and the Great Resignation, people are still finding it within their hearts to give this holiday season.

• Americans gave $2.7 billion this past Giving Tuesday, which is a 9% increase from last year.
• A survey from TopCashback found that 70% of Americans prefer to buy goods from companies that donate either a portion of their sales or even extra merchandise to charity.
• And many brands are in that giving spirit, including retailer Madewell, which is both matching donations to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry, and kitchenware-brand Our Place, which donates ten meals to Feeding America with every purchase.
• And yes, even the billionaires are in the giving mood, with the top donors the past couple of years being MacKenzie Scott and Jack Dorsey.

Last year, Americans donated $471 billion to charitable causes (5% more than 2019). Analysts expect that number to be topped this year, especially as decreased travel and entertainment options have left some Americans with more disposable income than they typically have.