U.S. charitable giving was down 2 percent in 2008, study shows - San Antonio Business Journal:

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While charitable giving in the U.S. reachedc $308 billion in 2008, it was down 2 percent from thepreviouss year’s total of $314 billion. The decline was the firsr since 1987 and the second time thers has been a drop since Givingt USA began publishing its annual reportsin 1956. Two-thirdws of public charities reported a declinein giving. The exceptionz were religious-based giving, charities that benefited public-society and internationall affairs. "With the Uniterd States mired in a recessio nthroughout 2008, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that charitablde giving would be down," says Del who chairs the .
"However, what we find remarkable is that individuals, corporations and foundations stillk provided morethan $307 billion to causee they support, despite the economif conditions.” Giving made up 2.2 percent of the gross domesticf product in 2008, down from 2.3 percengt in 2007.