What Are the Largest Nonprofit Organizations in the US?

When most people think of nonprofits, they picture small community organizations running on tight budgets. But the upper end of the nonprofit sector tells a very different story. The largest nonprofit organizations in the United States operate at a scale that rivals Fortune 500 companies — managing billions of dollars in annual revenue, employing tens of thousands of staff, and delivering services to millions of people every year.

This guide ranks the 15 largest US nonprofits by total annual revenue, based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filings. We also break down what drives their size, how their funding models differ, and what these organizations reveal about the structure of the nonprofit sector as a whole.

How We Ranked These Organizations

Rankings are based on total annual revenue as reported on IRS Form 990, which every tax-exempt organization with more than $200,000 in revenue is required to file publicly. Total revenue includes program service fees, contributions and grants, government contracts, investment income, and other sources.

It's important to note that revenue-based rankings can be misleading without context. Some organizations on this list earn the majority of their revenue from government contracts or fees for services — not from charitable donations. A large hospital system technically qualifies as a nonprofit but operates very differently from a food bank or disaster relief organization.

We've excluded hospital systems and university networks from this list, which would otherwise dominate entirely. Instead, we focus on recognizable charitable organizations to give a more useful picture of the major players in the traditional nonprofit and philanthropy space.

The 15 Largest Nonprofits in the US by Revenue

The following table ranks the largest US charitable nonprofits by total annual revenue. Revenue figures are drawn from the most recently available IRS Form 990 filings, typically covering fiscal year 2023–2024.

Source: IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal year 2023–2024. Network figures reflect aggregate revenue across affiliated chapters where applicable.

One striking pattern in this list: Georgia hosts the headquarters for an unusually large number of major nonprofits, including Task Force for Global Health, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, the American Cancer Society, World Vision, and CARE USA. This reflects Atlanta's emergence as a hub for international development and public health organizations, partly due to the presence of the CDC and strong university networks.

Profiles of the Top 5

1. Feeding America — $4.4 Billion

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States and operates the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief network. It supports over 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs across all 50 states. The organization’s revenue model is primarily driven by the donated value of food products that flow through its network — meaning much of its stated revenue represents in-kind contributions of food rather than cash.

Feeding America serves more than 40 million people annually, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors. Its network is particularly dense in states with high food insecurity rates, including Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

2. Catholic Charities USA — $4.3 Billion

Catholic Charities USA is not a single organization but rather a network of 168 independent diocesan agencies operating under a shared brand and membership association. Combined, these agencies serve over 15 million people annually through immigration and refugee services, food programs, housing assistance, mental health counseling, and disaster relief. A significant portion of their funding — often over 60% at the local agency level — comes from government contracts rather than church contributions.

3. The Salvation Army — $4.2 Billion

The Salvation Army operates as both a Protestant Christian denomination and a social services organization. In the United States, it runs over 7,500 service locations providing food, shelter, disaster assistance, rehabilitation programs, and holiday services like the iconic red kettle campaign. Like Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army’s revenue reflects a mix of private donations, government grants, and thrift store retail operations through its Family Stores chain.

4. United Way Worldwide — $3.7 Billion

United Way is one of the world's largest privately-funded nonprofit networks, operating through approximately 1,800 local affiliates in the US and internationally. Unlike direct service organizations, United Way primarily functions as a fundraising and grantmaking entity — pooling donations from workplace giving campaigns and individual donors, then distributing grants to local health, education, and financial stability programs. Its revenue has declined significantly from peak levels in the 1990s as workplace giving programs have shifted.

5. American Red Cross — $3.5 Billion

The American Red Cross is chartered by Congress to provide disaster relief and serves as a key component of the nation’s emergency response infrastructure. Roughly 40% of its revenue comes from biomedical services — primarily its blood supply operations, which provide approximately 40% of the nation’s blood supply to hospitals and medical centers. The remaining revenue comes from humanitarian services, disaster relief, military family support, health and safety training, and international humanitarian assistance.

How the Biggest Nonprofits Make Money

A common misconception is that large nonprofits run primarily on charitable donations. The reality is far more complex. The revenue breakdown varies enormously depending on the type of organization.

Understanding this funding mix matters enormously for anyone doing outreach to these organizations. A nonprofit that gets 70% of its revenue from government contracts has a very different procurement process, decision-making structure, and vendor relationship model than one that runs on individual donations. If you’re selling technology, insurance, consulting, or professional services to nonprofits, knowing how nonprofits make money helps you understand their buying behavior and budget cycles.

What This Means for the Nonprofit Sector

The concentration of resources at the top of the nonprofit sector is striking. The 15 organizations on this list collectively control tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue — while the vast majority of the 1.9 million registered nonprofits in the United States operate with annual budgets under $1 million. More than half operate with budgets under $100,000.

This concentration has real implications:

• For donors: The largest organizations attract the most visibility and brand recognition, but smaller community organizations often deliver services more efficiently at the local level. Vetting any organization — large or small — before donating is always worthwhile.
• For B2B vendors: The largest nonprofits have formal procurement processes, vendor qualification requirements, and long sales cycles. Smaller nonprofits often make purchasing decisions faster and with fewer stakeholders.
• For researchers: The nonprofit sector’s size and economic impact are often underestimated. These organizations are major employers, major buyers of technology and professional services, and major drivers of economic activity in the communities they serve.
• For policy: As government increasingly contracts with nonprofits to deliver public services, the line between government agencies and large nonprofit service providers continues to blur.

If you need to reach nonprofit organizations at scale — whether you’re selling SaaS, running a fundraising campaign, or building a research dataset — our nonprofit organizations database covers all 1.65 million registered nonprofits across all 50 states, with named contacts, direct email addresses, phone numbers, and revenue data to help you target the right organizations.

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