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Americans are the most generous people on Earth.

After charitable giving dipped during the COVID years — when inflation, lockdowns, and economic strain made it harder for average families to give — American generosity has rebounded.

In 2024, U.S. charitable giving reached $592.5 billion, climbing past pre-pandemic levels even after adjusting for inflation — encouraging news as another holiday season begins.

I first began exploring the myths and truths of American charity nearly 20 years ago after watching John Stossel’s classic 20/20 report, “Are Americans Cheap?”

Stossel showed how deeply generosity is woven into the American character. Even with massive government welfare programs, he reported then, Americans have always stepped up, givin

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