NEWS DIGEST
updated: December 22, 2004 3:36 PM
compiled by Frank Conte

Generosity Index Released 11/10/04

Smaller nonprofits latch on to logos
Christian Science Monitor 12/05/03

Generosity Index 2003: (2001 US State Data)
Chronicle of Philanthropy 11/14

Ariz. charities hope giving rises
Arizona Republic 10/6/03

For poor, hard times get harder
Poverty rate rises for second straight year, highlighting a stall in long-term progress.
Christian Science Monitor 9/29/03

Gates bucks boost NYC schools
Associated Press 9/18/03

Non-profits start making painful cuts
USA Today 9/17/03

Tax breaks urged to spur giving to religious charities
Sacramento Bee 8/26/03

GOP to Push Guaranteed Tax Break for Charitable Giving
CBS 47 Jacksonville 8/26/03

'Giving at Work 2003' Report Finds Growth in Alternative Funds as United Way Shifts Focus Toward Wealthier Donors
US NewsWire

Charitable giving stays relatively flat nationwide
Baton Rouge Advocate 7/5/03

Corporate giving prospers even in economic downturn
Seattle Times

The new giving chain
Employees begin to gain a wider role in directing their corporations' charity.
Christian Science Monitor

Firms lift charities in 2002
Christian Science Monitor

Charitable Choice Revisited

from NewsLink, Vol. 7, No. 4 - Summer 2003

As with any economic activity, philanthropy reflects the preferences of donors who vote with their dollars. Religious organizations continue to receive an overwhelming percentage of charitable donations made by Americans. According to the latest figures, the average donation to such organizations is $1,147 (expressed in 1993 dollars). This figure represents a 40% increase between 1995 and 2000.

The average donation, in 2000, to a religious organization was almost three times the average donation to educational institutions ($429).

On the other hand, a trend away from religious causes appears to be under way (see NewsLink, Summer 2002). Now the fastest growing category is donations to groups that provide recreational activities for adults. The average donation to these groups increased by 106%, from $152 in 1995 to $313 in 2000. Donations to public or societal-improvement organizations, which include advocacy groups and think tanks, increased 84%. Donations to environmental efforts and education also posted strong gains of 64% and 43% respectively.

There was also a measured increase in giving to youth development organizations. Such groups saw a 65% increase in the average donation made by households.

Certain types of charities lost ground during this period, even as personal income rose. Arts and cultural organizations saw a decline of 3% while health organizations saw a decline of 7%. The most stunning decline came at the expense of organizations dealing with international issues, perhaps a bellwether of American complacency. The average size of a donation dropped 20%.

Data collection in the world of philanthropy suffers from a significant time lag. All the data used in this analysis were posted before September 11, 2001. The effects of the events of that day – and two major wars — on donor preferences are yet to be determined.

BHI GENEROSITY RATE RANKING

Improving the Generosity Rate
Charitable Tax Deduction Would Boost Charitable Giving in
Massachusetts

Massachusetts falls in the lower third of all states when measured according to the rate at which its residents give to
private charities. This would change dramatically if Massachusetts voters approve ballot question 7, which would
establish a state-level charitable tax deduction. The state would move from the bottom third to either the middle
third or the top third of states in terms of its generosity, and residents would expand their giving by $1.43 billion
over the next five years – or by $410 million more than the reduction in tax revenues.
These are the findings of an analysis by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University. BHI’s Ray Shamie Center
for Civic Enterprise developed an index for the state’s Generosity Rate in order to perform this analysis.

FULL REPORT
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