Private giving outpaces government aid

May 21, 2010

Private philanthropy and remittances from the developed to the developing world in 2008 totaled nearly twice the amount of government aid, a new report says.

Private giving and remittances - money sent by immigrants in the U.S. back to their home countries -- totaled $233 billion in 2008, compared to $121 billion in government aid, says the 2010 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances published by the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C.

U.S. philanthropy to developing countries, including contributions from foundations, corporations, private and voluntary groups, individual                 volunteers, religious organizations, and colleges and universities, totaled $37.3 billion in 2008, up slightly from $36.9 billion in 2009.

That compares to $26.8 billion in aid from the U.S. government to developing countries.

Remittances alone from the U.S. to developing countries totaled $96.8 billion in 2008, the biggest outflow ever from the U.S. to developing countries.

Remittances from all countries to developing countries totaled $336 billion in 2008, up 17 percent from 2007.

"We have documented how private resources are transforming developing countries and challenging foreign aid to be more effective and collaborative," Carol C. Adelman, director of the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute, says in a statement.

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