Donations to the developing world from individuals and other private sources in the U.S., including money sent home by migrants, totaled $106.3 billion in 2006, eclipsing the $23.5 billion in official aid from the U.S. government, a new study says.
In 2006, $34.8 billion from private sources like individuals, corporations and foundations in the U.S. flowed to developing countries, says the Index of Global Philanthropy, published by the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute.
Another $71.5 billion in remittances was sent by migrants to their families in their hometowns in 2006.
Donations from religious congregations to developing countries totaled $8.8 billion in 2006, the study says, with over half of U.S. congregations giving an average of $10,500 in aid to poor countries.
The numbers for religious giving include donations for goods like food, clothing and medicine, and exclude support for evangelism.
The study of religious giving was conducted in partnership with the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at Notre Dame.- Professional Area: Fundraising/giving
- Field of Interest: Economic development | Health and human services | Poverty and social justice