This document summarizes trends in charitable giving to international causes from 1987 to 2012. It finds that giving to international affairs grew 552% in inflation-adjusted dollars during this period, far exceeding the 82% growth in inflation-adjusted giving to all other causes combined. There were several factors contributing to this growth, including increased awareness of international issues and more organizations working on international causes. The summary provides an overview of trends in donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to the international affairs sector.

1. Since the late 1990s, the international affairs subsector has emerged as a vibrant dimension
of the modern philanthropic landscape, attracting a rapidly growing proportion of total U.S.
charitable giving.
Spotlight Highlights
Giving USA
There are a number of factors that have played into the
growth in giving to international affairs by American
individuals and households, corporations, and founda-tions
in the last couple of decades. This Spotlight
presents an overview of some of the factors that have
contributed to the growth in giving to international
affairs, including increased awareness and focus on
international causes by donors and activists of all kinds
and a dramatic rise in the number of organizations
working on international causes. This Spotlight also
provides a comprehensive overview of trends in giving
to the international affairs subsector since the late
1980s by source of giving.
■ Nonprofit practitioners working for international
affairs organizations and causes can use the infor-mation
within this Spotlight to inform fundraising
strategy and practice. The implications of this
research are also important for those working for
other organizations and causes.
■ Researchers interested in the nonprofit sector can
use this information to better understand trends in
giving to the international affairs subsector from
both donor and organizational perspectives.
Issue 2, 2013
Researched and written by
CONTRIBUTORS
Legacy Circle: $25,000 and greater
The Giving Institute™
Keystone Circle: $15,000–$24,999
Dunham+Company
Foundation Circle: $10,000–$14,999
CCS Fund Raising
Grenzebach Glier and Associates
Marts & Lundy
Benefactor: $7,500–$9,999
None in this category in 2013
Patron: $5,000–$7,499
Bentz Whaley Flessner
Blackbaud
Campbell & Company
Collins Group
GuideStar
Harris Connect, LLC
Katha Kissman
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Partner: $2,000–$4,999
Alexander Haas
Alexander Macnab & Co.
The Alford Group
Beazley Foundation Inc.
Cramer & Associates
The Curtis Group
Dini Partners
DonorPerfect
Jeffrey Byrne + Associates, Inc.
Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates
M. Anne Murphy
The Phoenix Philanthropy Group
Ruotolo Associates Inc.
Schwab Charitable
Smith Beers Yunker & Company
2002
$286.66
Inflation-adjusted giving to international a
airs grew 552 percent between
1987 and 2012, far exceeding growth in inflation-adjusted giving to all other
charitable subsectors combined in that time period (82 percent).
2007
$327.00
2012
$297.12
$17.48 $10.17
$19.11
552%
GROWTH
82%
GROWTH
GIVING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
(in billions of inflation-adjusted dollars)
COMBINED GIVING TO ALL OTHER CHARITIES
(in billions of inflation-adjusted dollars)
1997
$227.92
1992
$178.67
1987
$163.13
$2.93 $3.47 $4.49
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