Despite U.S. corporate profits soaring nearly 400% over the past four decades, their charitable giving tells a different story. In 2023, corporate donations amounted to just 1.03% of pre-tax profits, hovering just above the standard 1% benchmark for philanthropy.
Historically, companies donated between 1% and 2% consistently, but that trend has nosedived since the early 2000s. As December—a peak season for donations—closes, the data underscores a growing gap between profits and public giving.
I think the scale should be the same for both lines. Then we could see the profit skyrocket 400% and the flatlining donations.
The endless grift.. how much more can we squeeze that dead cow??
“the recommended 1%”? Individuals donate an average of 2-3% in the USA, with wealthier individuals donating more. So if corporations are persons, they should too.
Profits continue to increase regardless of dontation size, so why would corps spend more on donations?
Now overlay the corporate tax rates.
One thing I’m tired of is buying something and then at the point of sale, being prompted to donate to some charity. The answer is always the same “is the billion dollar company I’m buying from at least matching my donation?” If the answer Is “no” (and it always is) I simply say “that’s your answer”
Bad, misleading presentation. Not beautiful data.
The plotted line invites comparison with the area graph, but they’re not comparable quantities or scales.
The plotted line of profits is just an awkward way of showing that companies make about 4 times as much money – *in total* – than they did 30 years ago. It’s following an absolute number (albeit not one that’s shown; it’s just expressed in multiples of 1983 profits.) It shows, unsurprisingly, that the economy is bigger and companies make more total money in 2023 than in 1983.
In contrast, the area graph of donations is *not* an absolute quantity. It’s a proportion of another number – a fraction of total profits – which itself changes year over year. The absolute value of donations is likely rising year over year, probably most every year. 1% of profits in 2023 is five times as much money as 1% of profits in 1983, but that’s not apparent from the chart.
The reader is expected to incorrectly infer that donations are flat while profits are rapidly rising, because of the way the two scales work. That’s dirty pool, and it doesn’t belong on r/dataisbeautiful.
(That’s not to say that there aren’t serious social and regulatory issues with the way that companies make or use profits. But this graph is a dishonest way to approach those problems.)
Corporations barely donate 1%, and most churches expect 10% from regular folks… Make it make sense. 🤷♂️
It’s all about perspective, and OPs is misleading. Donations are mainly coming from wealthy individuals, who can deduct 100% of their qualifying donations, verses 10% for corporate. I’m curious how OPs data accounts for inflation
![[OC] In the Season of Giving, Corporations Aren’t Particularly Charitable](https://www.europesays.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2k1vxnp096ce1-1206x1024.png)
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**Article:** [**https://www.datapulse.de/en/study-corporate-giving/**](https://www.datapulse.de/en/study-corporate-giving/)
**Main data source:** [**https://www.buchhaltungsbutler.de/study-corporate-giving/**](https://www.buchhaltungsbutler.de/study-corporate-giving/)
**Data:** [Google Sheets](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uIW7cGym2g5qTm3mfd-3mdPNg3AatZpWF-BIySfjKY8/edit?usp=sharing)
**Tool:** Adobe Illustrator
Despite U.S. corporate profits soaring nearly 400% over the past four decades, their charitable giving tells a different story. In 2023, corporate donations amounted to just 1.03% of pre-tax profits, hovering just above the standard 1% benchmark for philanthropy.
Historically, companies donated between 1% and 2% consistently, but that trend has nosedived since the early 2000s. As December—a peak season for donations—closes, the data underscores a growing gap between profits and public giving.
I think the scale should be the same for both lines. Then we could see the profit skyrocket 400% and the flatlining donations.
The endless grift.. how much more can we squeeze that dead cow??
“the recommended 1%”? Individuals donate an average of 2-3% in the USA, with wealthier individuals donating more. So if corporations are persons, they should too.
Profits continue to increase regardless of dontation size, so why would corps spend more on donations?
Now overlay the corporate tax rates.
One thing I’m tired of is buying something and then at the point of sale, being prompted to donate to some charity. The answer is always the same “is the billion dollar company I’m buying from at least matching my donation?” If the answer Is “no” (and it always is) I simply say “that’s your answer”
Bad, misleading presentation. Not beautiful data.
The plotted line invites comparison with the area graph, but they’re not comparable quantities or scales.
The plotted line of profits is just an awkward way of showing that companies make about 4 times as much money – *in total* – than they did 30 years ago. It’s following an absolute number (albeit not one that’s shown; it’s just expressed in multiples of 1983 profits.) It shows, unsurprisingly, that the economy is bigger and companies make more total money in 2023 than in 1983.
In contrast, the area graph of donations is *not* an absolute quantity. It’s a proportion of another number – a fraction of total profits – which itself changes year over year. The absolute value of donations is likely rising year over year, probably most every year. 1% of profits in 2023 is five times as much money as 1% of profits in 1983, but that’s not apparent from the chart.
The reader is expected to incorrectly infer that donations are flat while profits are rapidly rising, because of the way the two scales work. That’s dirty pool, and it doesn’t belong on r/dataisbeautiful.
(That’s not to say that there aren’t serious social and regulatory issues with the way that companies make or use profits. But this graph is a dishonest way to approach those problems.)
Corporations barely donate 1%, and most churches expect 10% from regular folks… Make it make sense. 🤷♂️
https://preview.redd.it/g99c16pso6ce1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10dd5ec4cb0d8558a4b3e94516913599f23faad8
It’s all about perspective, and OPs is misleading. Donations are mainly coming from wealthy individuals, who can deduct 100% of their qualifying donations, verses 10% for corporate. I’m curious how OPs data accounts for inflation
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