By: Grace Chandonnet, Senior Consultant

It has become almost routine to talk about the division, uncertainty, and rapid change shaping our world. The headlines remind us daily of political polarization, economic volatility, and technological advances that seem to transform the landscape faster than we can absorb them. Those realities matter, and they affect all of us. But there is another transformation happening, one that receives far less attention and offers genuine reason for optimism.

Across the philanthropic sector, generosity is proving remarkably resilient. Charitable giving is not only holding steady; it is growing, evolving, and finding new ways to create meaningful, transformative impact. New generations of donors are engaging differently, legacy giving is reaching new heights, and innovative approaches like impact investing are expanding what philanthropy can accomplish. As prospect intelligence professionals, we have a unique vantage point on these shifts, and play a vital role in helping organizations recognize and cultivate the relationships that make transformational philanthropy possible.

Here are a few reasons for optimism.

Charitable Giving Reached a New Record

One of the biggest pieces of good news comes from the latest Giving USA report. Americans donated an estimated $617.2 billion to charitable organizations in 2025 – the highest total ever recorded. Even after adjusting for inflation, charitable giving increased by approximately 3%, demonstrating that generosity remained strong despite economic uncertainty.

Growth occurred across multiple sectors, with particularly strong support for education, environmental organizations, and public society benefit nonprofits. This increase in such diverse areas reflects ongoing donor confidence in the nonprofit sector and reinforces the importance of the work we and our organizations do to address community needs and create lasting change.

Another encouraging trend is the continued growth of planned and legacy giving. Bequests increased by nearly 17% in 2025, representing the fastest-growing source of charitable support in the Giving USA report. As one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in history unfolds over the coming decades, charitable organizations have an unprecedented opportunity to engage donors in conversations about the legacy they hope to leave. For prospect intelligence professionals, this underscores the importance of understanding not only a donor’s current capacity, but also their long-term philanthropic intentions.

At the other end of the age spectrum, a promising trend in philanthropy is the growing involvement of younger generations. Young people are becoming increasingly engaged in philanthropy, not only as donors but as volunteers, advocates, and community leaders. Through giving circles, crowdfunding campaigns, student philanthropy programs, and social impact initiatives, younger generations are building philanthropic habits earlier and in new ways. For prospect researchers, this is a reminder to look beyond traditional wealth indicators and pay attention to engagement signals that may reveal future philanthropic potential. The next generation of transformational donors may already be supporting causes today – they may just look different from the donors we’ve traditionally tracked.

Impact investing continues to open new possibilities for philanthropy by allowing donors to support social and environmental solutions through both charitable giving and investment strategies. As more individuals and foundations seek measurable impact alongside financial sustainability, the line between philanthropy and investing is evolving. For prospect intelligence pros, this creates new opportunities to understand a donor’s full commitment to a cause – not just the grants they make, but the values and priorities that guide their broader financial decisions.

Transformational Giving Comes in Many Forms

MacKenzie Scott is not the only philanthropist making transformational investments. Over the past year, several landmark gifts have demonstrated the many ways philanthropy is creating lasting impact across the United States. Here are just a few examples:

• At Cornell University, alumni David and Cheryl Duffield recently made a $371.5 million gift to the College of Engineering – the largest gift in the university’s history. Their investment will expand engineering education and research while underscoring the enduring value of long-term alumni engagement, which has almost certainly been supported through the years by some great work from Cornell’s prospect research team.
• In Florida, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Herbert Wertheim committed $100 million to Baptist Health to advance cancer care, research, prevention, and innovation. Dr. Wertheim sees his philanthropy as a public service that is scalable and a step toward healthcare access across the country. The gift reflects how donors often deepen their commitment to organizations where they have established trust and see opportunities to create lasting change.
• On a somewhat smaller scale, the Central New York Community Foundation received a $12 million bequest from the estate of Nicholas and Agnes Renzi in 2025. The gift established permanent endowed funds and expanded the Foundation’s Community Grants Program into Cortland County for the first time.

Transformation means different things to different organizations, and it doesn’t always entail an eight- or nine-figure gift. The Giving with Grace Foundation distributed $250,000 among ten nonprofits in late 2025, with each organization receiving a $25,000 grant to strengthen programs ranging from food insecurity to foster care and animal welfare. Lasting impact is often achieved through a series of intentional investments rather than one highly publicized donation.

The challenges facing our communities are real. So is the generosity of the individuals, families, foundations, corporations, and volunteers who continue to invest in solutions. For prospect researchers, these examples reinforce an important truth: transformational philanthropy doesn’t follow a single blueprint. Donors give in diverse ways and for varied reasons, but the most meaningful gifts are rooted in an alignment between a donor’s values and an organization’s mission.

Our job is to help uncover those connections. By understanding a prospect’s philanthropic history, personal interests, professional achievements, and long-term relationships with organizations, we help fundraising teams look beyond the next gift and cultivate partnerships that can create lasting impact. Although our work often happens behind the scenes, every well-researched profile, thoughtful briefing, and strategic recommendation helps strengthen donor relationships, and, ultimately, advances the missions of the organizations we serve.