Community Philanthropy

U.S. Collective Giving Research Initiative

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New Research on the Collective Giving Landscape

Collective giving is on the rise. In 2024, Axios named giving circles the fastest-growing form of philanthropy, citing significant growth in the popularity and infrastructure available to collective giving groups since 2016. Collective giving groups and the infrastructure that supports them are reshaping philanthropic practices, fostering social connections, and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

Led by a research team at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University in partnership with Philanthropy Together, the latest national landscape study of giving circles across the U.S. produced three research papers that:

This research captures the contours of an evolving movement and the potential of collective giving across the philanthropic ecosystem. Check out all three reports below.

In Abundance

Examines how collective giving groups across the U.S. pool their time, talent, and resources to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy.

Rooted in Community

Maps the organizations and systems that support collective giving, offering strategy and guidance for leaders and funders invested in growing the movement.

Patterns in the Tapestry

Identifies seven archetypes of collective giving groups based on membership, giving focus, and organizational processes, using case study examples.

Key Findings

The latest research shows that participation in collective giving has grown to 4,000 groups contributing over $3.1 billion from 2017 to 2023 — more than doubling its impact in seven years. This not only fuels greater civic engagement but also fosters improved mental well-being while bridging political divides.

Collective giving is democratizing and diversifying philanthropy.
Collective giving greatly expands what gets funded.
Collective giving pushes the bounds of how philanthropy is practiced.
Collective giving deeply impacts members themselves.
Collective giving is a catalyst for social cohesion and change.

Made possible with the generous support of:

with input from networks of collective giving groups across the country:

About the Researchers

Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Layton holds the nation’s first endowed chair in community philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, where he researches, teaches, and consults on community-led development throughout the Americas. He has taught at Wesleyan and Yale, founded a philanthropy research program in Mexico City, and currently researches collective giving and community engagement around the world.

Adriana Loson-Ceballos, Ph.D.

Dr. Adriana Loson-Ceballos is a consultant and co-founder of Colmena-Consulting, a social justice-focused cooperative specializing in evaluation, research, and fundraising. Her participatory approach to evaluation and research, rooted in critical theories, amplifies marginalized community voices in philanthropy. Adriana serves as an evaluator for Philanthropy Together and volunteers on global philanthropy boards.