Charitable giving in the United States is estimated to be $306.39 billion in 2007, exceeding $300 billion for the first time in history, according to Giving USA 2008, the yearbook on philanthropy released today by Giving USA Foundation.  MORE »

U.S. charitable giving reached a new record in 2006, an estimated $295.02 billion, according to Giving USA 2007, the yearbook of philanthropy published by Giving USA Foundation (TM) and researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.  MORE »

Two years ago, the PGDC published an article by Betsy Mangone in which she discussed how nonprofits can build effective working relationships with professional advisors. In this follow-up article, Betsy identifies three factors influencing the non-profit sector's awakened desire to work with professional advisors, specifies the resources they can provide to assist the professional advisor community, and reviews best practices for professional advisors to build and maintain relationships with non-profits.  MORE »

The Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University have released their annual report on philanthropy, "Giving USA." According to the report, Americans gave total contributions of $260.28 billion for 2005, a 6.1 percent increase from 2004. The report stated about half the $15 billion increase is attributable to donors' response to three major natural disasters.  MORE »

After two years of limited growth in charitable contributions, Americans picked up the pace in 2004, showing they are a generous bunch. They donated nearly $250 billion to various causes across the United States, an almost 5 percent increase over 2003. That's the key finding in "Giving USA 2005," published annually by the Giving USA Foundation. The $248.52 billion in donations set a new record for philanthropy in the United States.  MORE »

If you have worked in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, you know they are quite different; each having its own culture, vernacular, and business practices. Many well-meaning advisors approach nonprofit and charitable organizations seeking to partner with them in their fundraising efforts. Some are successful while others are not. In this article, Colorado-based planned giving consultant and former NCPG President Betsy Mangone discusses the challenges advisors face in working with charities, and how they can begin and maintain effective working relationships.  MORE »

The AAFRC Trust For Philanthropy, which is the educational and research initiative of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, has released Giving USA 2004, its annual report on charitable giving by American individiuals, estates, foundations, and corporations. The report concludes that Americans gave $240.72 billion during 2003, a 2.8% (or 0.5% inflation adjusted) increase from 2002 and the highest growth since 2000.  MORE »

The Maryland Bar Association Committee on Ethics has released an opinion concluding an attorney who chairs a church's legacy committee and prepares wills on a pro bono basis for parishioners who bequeath property to the church would violate State professional conduct rules regarding conflicts of interest.  MORE »

It's been said there are two things you don't discuss in polite company: religion and the new address of the Cubs fan who tipped the foul ball during game six of the Cubs/Marlins series. In this case, Florida attorneys Jason Havens and Thomas Wells share their thoughts regarding the role attorneys can play in advising religious organizations in connection with their charitable status and fundraising programs. With 35% of all charitable gifts being given to religious organizations, we thought it a good addition to the PGDC. Hmmm ... maybe they've seen that Cubs fan!  MORE »

In February of 2000, the PGDC published a study by Paul G. Schervish and John J. Havens entitled, "Millionaires and the Millennium: New Estimates of the Forthcoming Wealth Transfer and the Prospects for a Golden Age of Philanthropy." The study predicted that over the 55-year period from 1998 to 2052, a minimum of $41 Trillion will pass from one generation to the next. However, in light of the recent recession and prolonged downturn in the equity markets, are the authors' predictions still valid? As you can tell by the title of this article, they haven't changed their minds.  MORE »