The Bulletin of News and Notes of the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel - Vol. 3 - No. 6 - Quotes, Estimates, and Philanthropy Data (Apr 15, 1957)

Sep 21, 2026

News and notes bulletin covering American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel topics, including a featured quote on cheerful and prompt giving and reflections on fellowship and community involvement. Provides an estimate of private philanthropy for 1956 with a detailed breakdown by source such as individuals, corporations, bequests, foundations, and investment income. Summarizes major foundation and organizational giving, including Ford and other grants, American Red Cross relief and fundraising figures, and personal income related to charitable contributions in 1955.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

QUOTE

ESTIMATE OF PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY

FOUNDATIONS

AMERICAN RED CROSS

PERSONAL INCOME

MOVEMENT FOR IMPROVED ACCOUNTING

# DETROPLEA总E DO NOT REMOV A Compilation # The Bulletin of News and Nofes Related to of THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 0F FUND-RAISING C0UN SEL Fund-Raising Vol.3 No.6 Ap 15,1957 ril ## QUOTE "I'm absolutely through with giving.This is the last 'good cause'to which Iwill contribute either time or money. "I said it,and I meant it.For one whole year I stuck to it.Then I decidedthat although the various calls for giving needed me,I needed them more..." Thus writes Ruth C.Ikerman in the current Christian Herald. After a year of refusing,the writer says: All of a sudden I realized I hadmissed the fellowship,the seeing of people from a cross section of our town........in my new campaign of giving I reached two positive decisions: give cheerfully and give promptly.Many good causes simply make many opportunitiesfor me to extend my bit of influence!The promptness makes me enjoy the givinglonger.... "Ilive in a world which is so organized that giving is a part of it.Withoutgiving I become isolated and filled with self-concern.With giving,Ihave an oppor-tunity to share in what is happening in this world for good."I'm finished with no-giving!" ## ESTIMATEOF_PRIVATE_PHILANTHROPY F.Emerson Andrews in an estimate,I'which may need substantial revisionas later facts come in,"places the total philanthropic giving in the United State s in1956 at $6,519,000,000.An additional $1 billion was received by philanthropicagencies from endowment and capital funds representing previous giving. The estimate in detail follows: | Source | Amount
(millions) | Per
cent | | --- | --- | --- | | T otal | $7,519 | 100 | | Contributions from individuals | 5,172 | 69 | | Contributions from corporations | 510 | 7 | | Charitable bequests | 237 | 3 | | Foundations | 600 | 8 | | Income from capital(except foundations) | 1,000 | 13 | * *Adjusted to eliminate duplication with sums reported in items 1 and 2 but also giventhrough foundations.SOURCE:Philanthropic Foundations,P.18,revised byauthor to 1956 estim ates. Internal Revenue Service has issued final statistics of income for 1953.Individual returns numbered 57,838,184. Of these,43,411,767 -or about one in four -individuals took standarddeduction for contributions. Average deduction claimed in income class between$5,000 and $6,000was $211;for incomes between $10,000 and $15,000 average was $467;for in-comes between $15,000 and $20,000 average was $634;for incomes between$20,000 and $30,000 average was $908;and those with incomes between $50,000and $100,000 claimed contributions averaging $2,722. In percentage of adjusted gross income,deductions for contributions were 4.7 per cent for incomes under $5,000;3.8 per cent for incomes between $10,000and $15,000;2.9 per cent for incomes of $25,000;3.1 per cent for incomes of$100,000;and11.6 per cent for incomes of $1,000,000 and over. ## EOUNDATIONS Ford Foundation grants,appropriations,and projects approved totaled$40,291,012 during first three months of 1957. United States Steel Corporation reports it made contribution of $8 millionto United States Steel Foundation,Inc.,in 1956,"to provide aid for charitable,educational and scientific organizations and activities.' Socony-Mobiloil grants in 1957-58 estimated at $785,000,of which$100,000 will go to foreign areas. ## AMERICAN_RED_CROSS for year ending June 30,1956reports 290 relief operations,and disaster expendi-tures of $32,742,319,out of total of $116,059,672 expenditures. Fund raisingexpense and membership enrollment cost$3,195,208. Fund campaign contributionswere $78,289,434. ## PERSONAL INCOME U.S.Department of Commerce analysis of personal income for 1955 re-ports ten states with largest per capita income as follows:Delaware,$2,513;Connecticut,$2,499;Nevada,$2,434;New Jersey,$2,311;California,$2,271;New York,$2,263;Ilinois,$2,257;Michigan,$2,134;Massachusetts,$2,097;Ohio,$2,062. For the nation per capi

FAQs

What guidance on giving is highlighted in the bulletin’s quote section?

The quote emphasizes being finished with no-giving and focuses on giving cheerfully and promptly, describing giving as connected to fellowship and opportunities to influence positively.

How does the bulletin estimate private philanthropic giving for 1956?

It states the total philanthropic giving in the United States for 1956 as $6,519,000,000, then explains an additional $1 billion received by philanthropic agencies from endowment and capital funds, followed by a detailed source-by-source breakdown.

Which organizations and figures are reported regarding fundraising and charitable activities?

The bulletin reports foundation grant totals (e.g., Ford), American Red Cross relief operations and expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1956, and notes on philanthropic movement with improved accounting and allocation of fund-raising costs.

Sep 21, 2026

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