Top Donated Causes | Charity Navigator

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What the numbers tell us.

Major events throughout 2025 significantly influenced where donors directed their generosity. Following the Los Angeles wildfires in January, donations to organizations focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery rose sharply — highlighting the continued pattern of donors mobilizing quickly in times of crisis.

Global developments also played a defining role. Increased attention to international aid and humanitarian relief drove notable growth in contributions to organizations such as Save the Children, UNICEF, and Direct Relief, reflecting donor concern for global stability and child welfare.

At home, human services and hunger relief remained among the most consistently supported cause areas. Food banks and community assistance programs continued to attract donors committed to addressing local needs and economic hardship.

Finally, shifts in national policy and public discourse reignited interest in civil rights and environmental advocacy, underscoring donors’ responsiveness to evolving social and political landscapes.

Overall, 2025 reinforced a key insight: donors continue to align their giving closely with current events — balancing reactive generosity in times of crisis with sustained investment in long-term community well-being.

The sample includes:

59,964 donors with 178,975 donations for a total of $51,101,178.

Multipurpose projects that plan, develop and implement programs that provide technical assistance, training, and material resources to support the capacity-building efforts of developing nations with a focus on areas such as agricultural and rural development, health, education, social welfare, small business development, and industrial growth which facilitate the host country's ability to provide for the basic needs of its people; examples are Africare and the Committee for International Development.

Promotion and provision of a broad range of social or human services to individuals or families; family services

Planning and providing services and relief during and immediately after a disaster or emergency, including rescuing victims and providing emergency medical care, shelter, and food.

Making free or low-cost food products available by distributing groceries, providing meals, or providing facilities for storing food and food aid overseas.

Promotion and protection of the physical and mental well-being of people through medical care and treatment; assessment and amelioration of social, environmental, and biomedical factors affecting that well-being; research into various diseases and in various disciplines; and education and prevention activities that increase people's own efforts at protecting public health.

The protection and promotion of the human rights and civil liberties of individuals and communities.

Preservation and protection of the natural environment, including pollution control and abatement programs; conservation and responsible development of natural resources; biodiversity preservation and wildlife conservation; protection of animals, including domestic pets and animals providing special services; control or elimination of hazardous and toxic substances; solid waste management programs; and environmental education.