Fundraising Talks – September 2025

Welcome to the September edition of Fundraising Talks.

We’re approaching the final quarter of 2025, which means it’s nearly time to launch year-end strategies to connect with both new and longtime donors. Our campuses are in full swing as students, faculty, and staff return for another academic year. Meanwhile, philanthropy is evolving and facing new challenges shaped by federal policies. In today’s environment, development professionals should focus on aligning their institution’s mission with donor values to build meaningful and lasting relationships. Let’s take a look at the current philanthropic landscape in the United States.

The 14th edition of CCS Fundraising offers fresh insights into the state of charitable giving in the U.S. The 2025 Philanthropic Landscape report is a valuable resource for fundraisers and a reliable guide for strategic planning. As we learned from the Giving USA report, total giving in the U.S. reached $592.5 billion in 2024—a clear reminder of the generosity and impact-driven spirit of donors nationwide. Other key findings include:

The top 50 mega-donors gave $16.2 billion in 2024. Interestingly, only 19 of the wealthiest Americans gave at this level, leaving room for growth in this segment.

Education, climate, and health remain the top philanthropic priorities for high-net-worth individuals.
Corporate giving reached a record $44.40 billion, while foundation giving surpassed $100 billion.

Mobile giving continues to grow: 54 percent of Millennials, 45 percent of Gen Z, and 43 percent of Gen X made donations via mobile in 2024.

Nonprofits are rapidly adopting AI, with 77 percent expecting to integrate it across operations within the next three to five years.

Wealth is also shifting geographically. The fastest-growing hubs in the U.S. include Scottsdale, AZ; West Palm Beach, FL; the Bay Area; Miami; and Washington, DC. Fundraisers can strengthen their efforts in these regions with personalized engagement strategies targeted toward younger, more diverse donors. Conducting segmentation and analysis of your institution’s donor base can help identify these opportunities.

Looking ahead, the projected $124 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer over the next 25 years offers unprecedented potential. Of that, an estimated $85 trillion is expected to pass to Millennials and Gen Z, underscoring the importance of connecting with these generations now. Investing in the right technology will help nonprofits continue building authentic, effective relationships with them.

As always, we welcome your questions, comments, or requests for support with fundraising research!

Best Regards,
Sapna and USM Advancement Research Team
Read more in this issue of Fundraising Talks>>