Individual, Corporate, and Foundation Giving to Arts, Culture, and Humanities Organizations, Total and as a Percentage of All Charitable Giving, 1985–2012

Since government support is comparatively modest, the humanities rely heavily on other charitable sources. The recent recession sharply curtailed charitable giving after 2007, following two decades of almost constant growth. After 2007, contributions declined 21% (to $13.1 billion), and the levels have recovered slowly in the years since (rising to $14.4 billion in 2012). Having grown from 1985 to the late 1990s, the share of all private giving going to arts, culture, and humanities organizations then plateaued at around 4.5% of total giving.