Bonterra Charts Bold Path to Raise U.S. Giving to 3% of GDP in 2025 Impact Report

Business Wire

19-05-2025

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bonterra, a leader in social impact technology, today released its 2025 Impact Report, the most comprehensive look at the year's trends across the social good sector and a bold call to grow charitable giving in the U.S. to 3% of GDP.
Drawing on insights from over 162 million donations, the report highlights customer progress and sector momentum. In the past year, Bonterra's platform helped raise $28 billion, supported 437,000 organizations, engaged 53 million donors, and distributed $8.5 billion in grants, impacting 4.8 million lives.
Bonterra's report also offers actionable insights to help nonprofits, corporations, foundations, and individuals fuel the Generosity Generation, a tech-powered movement breaking down barriers to giving and ushering in a new era of generosity.
For decades, U.S. charitable giving has held steady at just 2.5% of GDP (including volunteerism), not due to a lack of generosity, but because of persistent barriers like declining trust and limited transparency. Bonterra is working to remove these obstacles through technology, empowering a new generation of purpose-driven givers to unlock greater impact.
'Bonterra's goal is to grow U.S. charitable giving from 2.5% to 3% of GDP by 2033 by using technology to help bring funders and nonprofits together to build and sustain relationships,' said CEO Scott Brighton. 'Our report shows how nonprofit leaders, funders, and volunteers can harness technology to drive impact. With smarter tools, stronger collaboration, and a shared purpose, 3% is within reach.'
The core of the 2025 Bonterra Impact Report centers on key insights supported by data, offering strategies to help social good organizations build trust, mobilize donors, and secure funding more effectively. It also highlights the steps Bonterra is taking to help every doer of good reach their peak impact.
Key findings include:
Data-Driven Trust Is the New Currency for Nonprofits: With only 57% of Americans trusting nonprofits, transparency and personalization are critical. Data shows sustained donors give 8x more donations and 2.5x more dollars over 10 years—and they trust nonprofits that show real-time impact.
Crises Spikes Giving, So Be Ready to Meet the Moment: Donations to relevant nonprofits can surge dramatically during crises; giving exploded nearly 52x after the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision, which restricted abortion access. Nonprofits that begin fundraising before an anticipated event, like a hurricane, can see up to a 13x increase in just three days.
AI Optimizes Donor Outreach: Nonprofits are using AI to identify the right donors, ideal ask amounts, and perfect timing. Data shows mid-morning emails on Tuesdays and Thursdays drive the best results, and early follow-up matters: donors re-engaged within two months are more likely to give again, and donors who give second gifts are nearly five times more likely to become sustained givers.
Smarter Funding Through Technology: Many nonprofits struggle to secure funding, with 41% lacking the capacity to manage the full grant process. Bonterra's data shows that AI-powered tools can streamline applications, improve success rates, and reduce burnout, especially when organizations stay persistent after rejection.
Persistence Pays Off: On average, it takes just 1.24 applications to secure funding, making smart tools essential. Nonprofits that persist and apply for more grants, even after rejection, raise more overall, with 52% of reapplicants ultimately receiving funding.
Smaller Applications, Bigger Results: Nonprofits that apply for a larger volume of smaller grants end up receiving more funding for their cause than those who apply for one or two larger grants.
Gamification Reignites Workplace Giving and Engagement: With Gallup research showing employee engagement at just 31%—the lowest in a decade— workplace giving programs offer a timely solution. Bonterra's data shows that companies leveraging gamification see up to a 22% increase in matching gift participation rates, and digital wallets increase donation amounts by 90% — driving greater fulfillment, retention, and social impact.
This year, Bonterra is set to launch a comprehensive digital network that leverages AI to seamlessly connect nonprofits, funders, and supporters. The first phase of the Bonterra Network will transform grant discovery and applications, matching nonprofits with funders and streamlining processes to accelerate social impact and break down industry barriers.
About Bonterra
Bonterra is technology for the greatest good — helping nonprofits, charitable foundations, and socially responsible companies raise more, give more, and get more for their missions. With leading solutions across fundraising and engagement, corporate social responsibility, and case management, we're innovating with purpose: to create a giving revolution that generates $573 billion more in global impact every year.