Philanthropy in Wisconsin rose to meet challenges facing communities across the state, according to the 2020 Wisconsin Gives Report from the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network (WPN). The report, which provides insights on the state’s philanthropic sector, indicated nearly half of grant makers increased their giving last year and expect to give more in 2020, with 64% directed to disaster philanthropy in the state, including food security, workforce development, education, and housing/homelessness. Key findings from WPN’s report include:
- Total charitable giving in the United States rose 4.2% between 2018 and 2019, to $449.64 billion (est.);
- Nationally, giving by corporations increased 13.4% to a total of $21.09 billion;
- Nearly half of the WPN survey respondents expect an increase in their grant-making in 2020;
- 64% of WPN survey respondents who are increasing grants are directing funding to disaster philanthropy due to the COVID-19 crisis;
- 39% of WPN survey respondents will increase grants to overall operating support; and
- 60% of survey respondents are directing funding to address racial justice issues.
