Though many people are not aware of it, the nonprofit community is an enormous contributor to the American economy:  It provides 5.5 percent of the nation's entire GDP^[1] or $751 billion worth of output.^[2] 

EMPLOYMENT

In 2009, nonprofits employed 13.5 million individuals, or approximately 10 percent of the country's workforce.^[3] To provide a comparison, more people work in the sector than in the finance industry, including insurance and real estate, combined. In addition, in 2009 volunteer activity of 8.1 billion hours of service produced an estimated value of $169 billion.^[4]

Employees of nonprofit organizations account for 9 percent of wages paid in the U.S. in 2009, and the nonprofit sector paid $668 billion in wages and benefits to its employees. ^[5]

FINANCES

Charitable giving totaled $303.8 billion in 2009, a 3.6 percent drop in current dollars over 2008.^[6] In 2006, 65.5 percent of households gave to charitable causes. ^[7]

In 2008, the total expenses of all reporting public charities –- public charities required to file Form 990s with the IRS –- totaled nearly $1.3 trillion. Total revenues were estimated at $1.4 trillion. ^[8]

Most nonprofits are small. Almost 74 percent of reporting public charities reported annual expenses of less than $500,000 in 2008. Less than 4 percent of reporting public charities had expenses greater than $10 million. ^[9]

The total combined assets of all nonprofits are estimated at $4.3 trillion for 2008.  Reporting public charities held $2.6 trillion of total assets. ^[10]

Sources of independent sector revenues for 2008: ^[11]

Dues, fees, and charges – 45.5%

Includes payments to organizations offering services, such as hospitals, health clinics, and child daycare centers.

Government – 32.3%

Includes grants and money appropriated by the government for services, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Charitable contributions – 12.4%

• Individuals (living and bequests)
• Foundations
• Corporations

Other sources (including interest income) – 9.8%

Footnotes 

1.New number released by the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) on March 18, 2011, verified by Thomas Pollak, Ken Wing and Katie Roeger.

2. Congressional Research Service, “An Overview of the Nonprofit and Charitable Sector”, Molly Sherlock and Jane G. Gravelle, November 2009.

3. New number released by NCCS on March 18, 2011, verified by Thomas Pollak, Ken Wing and Katie Roeger

4. Corporation for National and Community service. “Volunteering in America 2010: National, State and City Information.  http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/assets/resources/IssueBriefFINALJune15.pdf 

5. New number released by NCCS on March 18, 2011, verified by Thomas Pollak, Ken Wing and Katie Roeger

6. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, Giving USA 2010, (Indianapolis: Giving USA Foundation)

7. The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. The Center on Philanthroppy Panel Study: Key Findings

http://www.philathropy.iupui.edu/Research/COPPS/ 

8. Kennard Wing, Roeger and Pollak, The Nonprofit Sector in Brief: Public Charities , Giving and Volunteering 2010, Urban Institute 2010

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. Corrected Table on Sources of Revenues for Reporting Public Charities, 2008, issued by Thomas Pollak, March 2011.