New national giving trends highlight impact of Idaho philanthropy
The Greater Coeur d'Alene Community Foundation presents a check to Special Needs Recreation. Back row from left, Sue Thilo, Heidi Rogers and Suzanne Knutson. Front row from left, Bill Pfinsgraff, Jody Azevedo, Lindsay Patterson, and Emma Hoagland.
Photo courtesy Idaho Community Foundation
New data from Giving USA shows that charitable giving continues to grow, with total giving rising 3.1% in 2025 when adjusted for inflation.
At the same time, one of the most notable shifts is a 19% increase in giving through bequests — a signal that more Americans are choosing to make philanthropy part of their long-term legacy, a press release said.
For Idaho leaders, those trends point to both progress and possibility.
“Across Idaho, we see every day how generosity strengthens communities,” said Kevin Bailey, vice president of Impact & Nonprofit Center at the Idaho Community Foundation. “At the same time, these national trends reinforce something important, we are in a defining moment for how people choose to give, and how that giving will shape Idaho’s future.”
In Idaho, nonprofits are essential to how communities function — often stepping in where other systems fall short, filling critical gaps and ensuring vital services reach people across the state.
Through charitable funds, grantmaking, nonprofit support, and statewide efforts such as Idaho Gives, the Idaho Community Foundation connects donors, nonprofits, and local leaders to meet needs across the state, the release said.
That impact is growing.
In 2025, the Foundation granted, distributed, and helped raise $21.2 million for Idaho communities, an increase of roughly 10% from $19.2 million the year prior. Early 2026 data shows continued momentum, reflecting both increasing community need and sustained generosity across the state.
Looking ahead, Idaho is also on the front edge of a historic shift: the transfer of wealth between generations. According to a 2025 statewide Transfer of Wealth analysis, by 2035, more than $30.6 billion is expected to transfer from one Idaho generation to the next — growing to $149 billion over 40 years.
If just 5% of that wealth were directed to permanent, local charitable funds, it could generate more than $1.8 billion in charitable support for Idaho communities over time.
“This is an opportunity for Idahoans to think intentionally about their impact,” Bailey said. “Philanthropy isn’t just about today — it’s about what we want our communities to look like in the future, and the role each of us can play in building that.”