Giving USA 2026: What You Need to know | Rick Dunham & Joshua Crowther

In this episode of the Cause+Effect Podcast, Trent Dunham, President and CEO of Dunham+Co, is joined by Rick Dunham, Founder and Chairman, and Josh Crowther, VP of Dunham+Co, for a practical conversation about the new Giving USA 2026 report and what it means for churches, ministries, and nonprofit organizations.<br /><br />Charitable giving reached $617.2 billion in 2025 and grew even after adjusting for inflation. But behind that healthy top-line number are important shifts in how and where people give. Rick and Josh unpack the surge in bequests, the growing influence of donor-advised funds, declining donor participation, and the challenges facing giving to religious organizations.<br /><br />From beginning a planned giving conversation to preparing for transformational gifts and building a broader community of support, this episode turns the data into practical next steps. Trent, Rick, and Josh also explore what Gen Z’s generosity could mean for the future and why consistent, story-driven communication is essential for moving donor relationships beyond the transactional. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.<br /><br /><b>Chapters:</b><br /><br />00:00 — Introduction<br />01:04 — What Giving USA Tells Us About 2025<br />06:10 — What Drove the Growth in Giving<br />07:02 — The Rise of Bequests and Planned Giving<br />12:09 — Where Donors Are Directing Their Gifts<br />19:21 — Donor Participation and Building from the Bottom Up<br />24:40 — Rebuilding Community Around Your Mission<br />27:09 — What Gen Z Signals About the Future of Giving<br />31:39 — Telling Stories That Connect Donors to Impact<br />