P.M. BRIEFING : ’89 Charitable Giving Up 10.5%
Americans gave nearly 10.5% more to charity last year, and about half the $114.7 billion donated went to religious groups, according to a report.
The report attributed the increase to an 8.9% rise in personal income, a 21.1% jump in the stock market, intensified fund-raising and growing awareness of AIDS, homelessness, the environment and other concerns.
The report was issued by the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy, an arm of the American Assn. of Fund-Raising Counsel.
The biggest chunk of last year’s donations, 47.4%, went to houses of worship, religious organizations and the social services they provide.
Two natural disasters in 1989, the San Francisco earthquake and Hurricane Hugo, generated an outpouring of financial aid. The Red Cross, for example, received $155 million for both disasters in mostly small, individual donations.
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