Giving Is Back: Insights from the 2025 Giving USA Report with Wendy McGrady

Oct 1, 2025

Wendy McGrady, President and COO of The Curtis Group and Chair of the Giving USA Foundation, shares insights from the 2025 Giving USA Report. She discusses the 6.3% rise in charitable giving and the economic factors behind it, including improved donor confidence. Wendy also explores changing donor behavior post-pandemic, the decline in household giving, and the importance of personalized stewardship for nonprofits. She emphasizes the need for effective messaging to foster deeper donor engagement amidst uncertain times.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Macroeconomic Drivers Shape Giving

Charitable giving rose in 2024 because donors felt financially secure due to GDP and stock market gains.
The S&P and GDP are key macro indicators to watch for future giving trends.

INSIGHT

Generosity Extends Beyond Cash

People show generosity in many forms beyond financial gifts, like volunteering and crowdfunding.
Different generations favor different giving modes, so engagement strategies must vary by cohort.

ANECDOTE

Everyday Family Generosity Examples

Julia describes family volunteering examples: her husband in Cub Scouts and her mother with Meals on Wheels.
These personal examples illustrate everyday generosity across life stages.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

🪷Nonprofit Nation is supported by Bloomerang. Download their free Ultimate Guide to GivingTuesday and get helpful templates to help you raise more on the biggest day of the year for new donor acquisition. 🪷

The numbers don’t lie - 2024 was a record-breaking year for charitable giving. But are you actually feeling it this year? And what does it mean for 2026?

I talk with Wendy McGrady, President and COO of The Curtis Group, and Chair of Giving USA Foundation, to break down insights from the newly released Giving USA 2025 Annual Report. With giving up 6.3% and outpacing inflation for the first time in three years, fundraisers have reason to be optimistic — but also strategic.

We unpack what’s really behind the numbers, how donor behavior is evolving post-pandemic, and how nonprofit marketers can turn these insights into better messaging, stronger relationships, and more sustainable funding.

🎧 In This Episode, We Discuss:

The economic tailwinds that fueled the recent giving surge
Changing donor behavior and emerging giving patterns
How to message hope and legacy in a divided, uncertain time
Ways to adapt to federal funding cuts through stronger philanthropy
Why now is the moment to deepen — not just diversify — donor engagement

🧰 Resources & Links:

Full Report: Giving USA 2025
Learn more about Wendy: Wendy McGrady – Giving USA

🪷🪷 This episode sponsored by Bloomerang! 🪷🪷

What if we named things for what they're not? We'd give teachers non-apples and fly non-cars. Ridiculous, right? So why is your world-changing organization called a "nonprofit"? Truth is you're for-purpose. And the more you raise, recruit, and retain, the more good you can do.

That's where Bloomerang comes in. Bloomerang's Giving Platform is built for purpose, with easy-to-use tools and powerful insights that help you understand your donors better than ever and unleash generosity! (Slightly faster, more energetic) Imagine... spending less time on admin tasks and more time on what matters: your mission. Bloomerang customers raise an average of 26% more!

Ready to join them?

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts