Donations to U.S. nonprofit hospitals up 5% in 2016

Nonprofit hospitals and health systems in the U.S. raised more than $10.1 billion in fiscal year 2016, a 5 percent jump from the year before, while their Canadian counterparts saw their first increase in donations since 2013.

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (AHP) annual report on giving to hospitals covers both the U.S. and Canada. Combined, the countries saw an increase of $63 million during 2016, totaling $11.675 billion. In Canada, donations increased by 10 percent to $1.532 billion.

"We are excited to see health giving break the $11 billion mark for the first time," Steven Churchill, MNA, president and CEO of AHP, said in a statement. "The recovery in the Canadian health care development environment from a two-year downturn was also positive news for fundraisers."

In the 2015 report, U.S. nonprofit hospitals saw only a 0.2 percent increase, while Canada’s donations fell by 6.8 percent. The Canadian tumble made for an overall decrease of $82 million in the two countries combined.

For 2016, The median approximate return on investment (ROI) for U.S. hospitals dropped to $4.06 from $4.29 in FY 2015. The median ROI in Canada also dropped in FY 2016 to $4.07 from $4.20 in FY 2015.

"Throughout North America, health care organizations are diligently using funds to improve their institution's ability to serve their communities. A fourfold ROI demonstrates the high standards to which fundraisers hold themselves," said Jory Pritchard-Kerr, AHP board chair and executive director at Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation in Ontario.