Milestones in Philanthropy in America

We have a strong tradition of charitable giving in America. Here are just a few notable moments in our philanthropic history:

• 1643 - The first account of a fundraising drive in America is organized by Harvard University. It raised 500 pounds.
• 1917-Thanks to the Revenue Act of 1917, taxpayers can deduct their charitable contributions off their federal income taxes.
• 1964 -Although giving in the Federal workplace goes as far back as the 1940s, it wasn’t until in 1961 that President John F. Kennedy authorized the creation of a formal fundraising program. Launched in 1964, the first Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) raised $12.9 million.
• 1999 -New legislation requires charities to provide copies of their three most recently filed Forms 990 to anyone who makes a request in-person or in writing.
• April 2008 -With evaluations of over five thousand charities, Charity Navigator is the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities.

Visit our site to learn more about America's giving history. And check out this page to learn more the types of Americans that give the most and how we compare with the Europeans.

Photo by H.Damke via Shutterstock.com.