This report presents a comprehensive review of private philanthropy in the United States during 1996. After a preliminary section, the first section presents data on giving, using text, graphs, and charts. Sections cover: overall 1996 contributions; changes in giving by source and use; total giving (1966-1996); inflation-adjusted giving in 5-year spans; giving as a percent of gross domestic product; giving by source as a percent of total giving; giving by individuals, bequests, foundations, corporations, and by use; giving to religion, education, health, human services, arts/culture/humanities, public/society, environment/wildlife, international affairs; and number of 501(c)(3) organizations from 1987-1995. The next section reviews the year in terms of sources and uses of contributions. The following sections review the legal and legislative environment, giving worldwide, gifts of $1 million or more, and some planned giving instruments. A section of tables provides data on giving by source and use in both current and inflation-adjusted dollars, comparisons of 1996 and 1995 estimates, giving as a percent of gross domestic product (1966-96), individual gifts and personal income (1966-96) and corporate gifts and pretax income (1966-96). A list of sources of philanthropic information and a summary of the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities complete the report. (DB)