Most Donors Plan to Maintain Level of Charitable Giving,
Survey Finds

The majority of American donors plan to maintain their level of
charitable giving in the near term, despite volatility in the
financial markets and an uncertain economic outlook, according
to a new survey by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

Fifty-five percent of those who responded to the survey said they
planned to maintain their level of giving in the fourth quarter,
while 8 percent said they would give more than in past years in
response to growing needs. At the same time, more than a third
(36 percent) of respondents said they planned to give less due to
financial limitations (30 percent) or the uncertain tax climate
(6 percent); those respondents were split evenly between cutting
back on donations across all the charitable causes they support
and prioritizing their giving. In addition, of those who said
they would give less, nearly 60 percent said they planned to
volunteer their time and skills, while 21 percent said they
planned to donate other types of assets.

According to the survey, 66 percent of donors — and 81 percent
of those with household incomes of more than $100,000 — had
planned all or most of their charitable giving for the year in
advance. The survey also found that tax deductions were not an
overriding factor in the giving plans of most donors, with only
31 percent saying it was a significant consideration and 88 per-
cent saying they would not change their giving based on an
increase in the charitable tax deduction.

“There’s no denying that it’s been a challenging year for many
Americans,” said Sarah C. Libbey, president of the Fidelity
Charitable Gift Fund. “Priorities and pocketbooks are stretched,
while the call for charitable giving is greater than ever. Yet,
it is clear that Americans are deeply committed to giving —
whether money or time — to the causes they care about, and that
this commitment endures through both good and challenging times.”

“Majority of Americans Plan to Give Same or More in Fourth
Quarter, According to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Survey.”
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Press Release 10/20/10.

Women More Likely to Give and Give More Than Men, Study
Finds

Women are more likely to give to charity and they give more on
average than men across nearly every income level, a new study
conducted by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center
on Philanthropy at Indiana University
finds.

According to the study, Women Give 2010, in every income bracket
a higher percentage of women than men give to charity. Moreover,
women in the lowest ($23,509 and under per year), middle (between
$43,501 and $67,532), and top income brackets (more than $103,000)
give nearly twice as much as their male counterparts. The excep-
tion is women in the second-lowest quintile (between $23,510 and
$43,499), who are 32 percent more likely to give than men but
also give 32 percent less.

Using data from the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study, the
report analyzed giving by households headed by single men and
women (data on giving by married couples can obscure the effects
of gender) controlled for a variety of factors, including income,
age, race/ethnicity, education, and number of children. Among
the highlights, the report found that never-married and divorced
women are more likely to give — and give more — than men of
the same marital status, while widowers are more likely to give
and give more than widows.

“These findings have the potential to affect both donors and
charities significantly,” said the report’s author, Debra J.
Mesch, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. “Under-
standing the power of their giving may encourage more women to
consider the difference they can make with their giving. Non-
profits may see this as a reminder to pay closer attention to
the philanthropic power of women and the importance of develop-
ing fundraising strategies that will appeal to their priorities.”

“Women Give More to Charity Than Men, New Study Shows.” Center
on Philanthropy at Indiana University Press Release 10/21/10
.