The 100 largest charities pulled in $51.5 billion in donations during their most recent reported fiscal years. That’s up 5% from the year before and equals an impressive 12% of the $427.7 billion in total contributions received by the nation’s one million-plus charities in 2018, as reported by Giving USA.
The 21st annual Forbes Top Charities list, which ranks the largest U.S. charities based on private donations received, sheds light on these philanthropy giants.
The full list below can be sorted by the category of charity—for example, medical, cultural or environmental. Each charity’s name links to a page providing even more data, including the highest compensation paid to an employee and all our ratios of charitable efficiency, which show, for example, how much of an organization’s revenues go for its mission, as opposed to fundraising expense and other overhead. If a nonprofit you’re considering donating to isn’t on our list, you can compare its efficiency numbers to those posted by members of the 100 in the same category.
For more details about the list, its methodology, how to compare charities and the regulation of charities, click here. For strategies that will tax-optimize your charitable giving, click here.
TOP TEN LIST SPOTLIGHT:
01
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$3.3 B
02
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$2.8 B
03
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$2.6 B
04
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$2 B
05
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1.7 B
06
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1.5 B
07
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1.4 B
08
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1.4 B
09
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1.1 B
10
PRIVATE DONATIONS:
$1 B
FULL LIST: AMERICA’S TOP CHARITIES 2019
SEARCH BY CATEGORY
All
Cultural
Domestic Needs
Education
Environment/Animal
Health
International Needs
Medical
Public Affairs
Public Broadcasting
Religious
Youth
Rank
Name
Private Donations
Total Revenue
United Way Worldwide
$3.3 B
$3.7 B
2
Feeding America
$2.8 B
$2.8 B
3
Task Force for Global Health
$2.6 B
$2.6 B
4
Salvation Army
$2 B
$3.9 B
5
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
$1.7 B
$2.3 B
6
American National Red Cross
$1.5 B
$3.6 B
7
Direct Relief
$1.4 B
$1.4 B
8
Habitat for Humanity International
$1.4 B
$2.2 B
9
YMCA of the USA
$1.1 B
$7.7 B
10
Americares Foundation
$1 B
$1 B
11
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
$1 B
$2.2 B
12
Compassion International
$948 M
$959 M
13
Food for the Poor
$929 M
$943 M
14
Goodwill Industries International
$878 M
$6.1 B
15
Nature Conservancy
$831 M
$1.2 B
16
Lutheran Services in America
$810 M
$22.6 B
17
American Cancer Society
$728 M
$724 M
18
Catholic Medical Mission Board
$727 M
$742 M
19
World Vision
$719 M
$1.1 B
20
Step Up for Students
$715 M
$718 M
21
Catholic Charities USA
$714 M
$4.4 B
22
Samaritan's Purse
$664 M
$709 M
23
American Heart Association
$651 M
$885 M
24
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
$631 M
$1.7 B
25
United States Fund for UNICEF
$593 M
$598 M