CT Reaches New Philanthropic High, But Fewer Residents Are Giving

HARTFORD, CT -- Connecticut residents donated an all-time high of $5 billion to charity in 2015, according to a recent report from the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. However, the number of residents that donate is decreasing, raising questions about the sustainability of these gifts. “The data reflects some of the inequality that exists in Connecticut,” says Julie Loughran, President and CEO of the Connecticut Community Foundation. “You have wealthy individuals and large foundations giving more, which is reflected in the dollar number going up, but low- and middle-income donors are giving less. What is particularly concerning about that is that gifts from smaller donors are often critical to local community-based organizations.”