GENEROSTITY DEFINED
“The most simple definition is the act of giving,” one participant said. “And it doesn’t have to be money. It could be giving of yourself, your time, or your money if you have it. But it’s the act of giving without the expectation of something in return.”
A report from the Generosity Commission and Hattaway Communications found that nearly three in four Americans say they aspire to be generous, and most of them already are, in ways that charities and traditional tracking methods simply can’t measure.
An overwhelming 73 percent said they give to help people in need, and 47 percent said they want to contribute to something they care deeply about. Generosity comes from the heart first.
More than three in four respondents (77 percent) reported donating money each year, and more than half (57 percent) reported volunteering.
Americans Giving at Record Levels
Nonprofits and faith communities remained major channels. More than half of respondents (58 percent) gave to nonprofits, and nearly half gave to faith-based organizations (46 percent) or through their faith communities (45 percent) at least yearly.
Family, it turns out, has more influence on giving behavior than any media message ever could. More than half of respondents (56 percent) said they are more generous today because their families instilled in them the importance of giving at a young age. Among those who regularly discussed giving and volunteering with their families growing up, 85 percent donated at least some money each year, compared to 66 percent of those who rarely or never had those conversations.
