The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) recently released the 2015 Giving in Oregon report that has found that Oregon nonprofits received more than $1.76 billion in donations in 2013, up from $1.75 billion in 2012. (2013 is the latest year for which complete IRS data is available.)
Oregon nonprofits reported slightly more contributions in 2013, yet Oregonians donated less, as a percentage of their income, in 2013 than in 2012. However, across all income groups, Oregonians continue to give more of their income compared with the United States as a whole. The education sector in Oregon continues to be a big beneficiary of contributions, receiving 32 percent of all contributions to nonprofits in 2013.
Deschutes County nonprofits (558) received a total of $47,060,550 approximately $84,338 per organization. Crook County nonprofits (63) received $2,514,221 with $39,908 for each group. Jefferson County nonprofits (67) received $249,822 or $3,729 for each organization.
OCF has tracked philanthropy and its effects on the state’s nonprofit sector and those it serves for more than a dozen years through the Giving in Oregon report. This year marks the first time OCF is able to analyze individual contributions by county, adding another layer of information to the report.
71 percent of all contributions in Oregon in 2013 were directed to nonprofit organizations located in Multnomah, Lane and Benton counties. Multnomah County, which received $963 million in contributions, is the most populous county in the state and is home to roughly one-quarter of the nonprofits in Oregon. Lane and Benton counties are home to two of the largest universities in the state, University of Oregon and Oregon State University, both large recipients in those counties.
In 2013, Oregonians reported giving 2.19 percent of their income to charity, compared with 2.28 percent in 2012. Despite the overall reduction, Oregonians still contribute more than Americans as a whole. In the United States, charitable contributions were 2.16 percent of income in 2013.
“The 2015 Giving in Oregon report suggests a need for a renewed commitment to increase philanthropy throughout our state. However, the generosity of Oregonians in giving time as well as money reaffirms the belief that Oregon has a strong culture of giving and a dedication to improving the quality of life in our communities and around the state,” said OCF President and CEO Max Williams. “It is now critical that we maintain that culture of giving and collective action for our state.”
Find more data on 2013 contributions as a percent of income and contributions by Oregon county by reading the Giving in Oregon report.
The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve life in Oregon and promote effective philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about. Through these funds, OCF has awarded a total of $1 billion in grants and scholarships, with $80 million awarded in 2014 alone.
