The Surprising Truth About American Generosity

Even in hard economic times, many Americans are extraordinarily generous with their time and money. Who are these givers? Why do they give? What does the future of American giving look like? We’ll provide the answers.

When Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in 1835, he was surprised by how willing people were to donate their time and money to causes they considered worthy.  "The Americans," he wrote, "make associations to give entertainments, to found seminaries, to build inns, to construct churches.....