Organizations in the health sector include hospitals, primary care facilities, health-related research groups, mental health services and health policy centers. In 2012, giving to health saw a slight increase — up 4.9 percent to a total of $28.1 billion.

Hospitals and primary care facilities continue to receive the majority of health charity revenue. But nonprofit “a-thon” events tend to do well — the top 30 raised $1.6 billion in 2012. 

Many foundations gave to organizations in preparation for the Affordable Care Act. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for example, put $32.7 million toward healthcare overhaul-related programs. 

How do you give?

As part of our special series on philanthropy and charitable giving in the United States we’re taking a look at a few things: Where did our strong history of philanthropy come from? What are the economic ramifications of how Americans give? 

As part of the reporting we’re looking back at the history of some of the biggest philanthropists in U.S. history. John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffett.

In gauging how important those folks are we would also like to know how the average person gives.

What inspires you to give money to your local charity? Do you see philanthropy as time spent on a cause or money spent supporting it? We want to know!

We’ll use your answers to support future reporting on how people give.

Click here to get started!