Heterogeneity and Giving: Evidence From U.S. Households Before and After the Great Recession of 2008

Abstract

Before the Great Recession of 2008, a stable two-thirds of the U.S. population donated to charitable causes in any given year. However, the fraction of American donors has declined by 11% since the Great Recession. In this article, we investigate pre- and postrecession charitable giving between 2000 to 2014. By examining household dynamics including race and ethnicity, age, gender, and educational attainment, this article uncovers changes in giving behaviors and provides new insights into how the Great Recession of 2008 affected both giving rates and amounts. It also discusses the implications for civil society and the need to build resilience for responding to future economic shocks.