The Nation - News from Sept. 21, 1987

A relatively few exceptionally generous donors constituting only 4% of individuals in the $100,000-plus income bracket provide 35% of charitable donations made by the wealthiest 1% of Americans, according to a study of 700,000 tax returns. However, the report by economists from Yale University and the Treasury Department on 1971-1975 donations found that more than 25% of the wealthiest individuals reported giving less than 1% of their incomes to philanthropies or churches. The average American who itemizes deductions reports contributions amounting to 2% of income.