( Jessica Dickler/CNN-Money)
Chalk it up to the holiday spirit — or just smart tax planning — but charitable giving is looking up this month.
Giving in December is already up 15% from 2010, according to the latest tally by Network for Good, a site that enables donors to contribute to more than 10,000 charities across the country. In November, donations rose 20% over the same month last year.
“This year looks a little better, but not back to pre-recession levels yet,” said Katya Andresen, Network for Good’s chief strategy officer.
But the best is yet to come. While one-third of all online giving for the year occurs in December, a whopping 22% happens in the last two days of the year, according to Network for Good’s online giving study. That end-of-year rush can mainly be attributed to donors looking for some last-minute tax savings.
“It’s traditional to think about charity in December and of course, it’s the end of the tax year,” Andresen said. (Read the full story at CNN/Money)
- Donations From the Rich to Charities Rose in 2011 (Chronicle of Philanthropy)
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OPINION:
- Karl Moore & Richard Pound: Volunteering – A Great Way To Learn Real Executive Leadership (Forbes)
- Charles D. Frasier, JR: A Landmark for Children’s Health (Houston Chronicle)