Posted on October 31, 2007

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Giving to Largest Charities Increased 4.3 Percent in 2006, More for Arts Institutions

The largest charitable organizations in the country reported a modest 4.3 percent increase in donations during fiscal year 2006, raising a total of $67.5 billion, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.

According to its annual Philanthropy 400 survey, the increase was much smaller than the double-digit increases of the past two years, when the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina resulted in billions in donations to charitable organizations. If the $2.1 billion in contributions to the American Red Cross were excluded from the 2005 total, donations to organizations in the survey 400 would have increased by just 0.9 percent.

United Way of America topped this year's list with $4.1 billion raised, while private support for arts institutions, including libraries, museums, and public broadcasting, increased 17.5 percent, to $2.5 billion. By comparison, U.S. educational institutions, a leading beneficiary of private philanthropy, experienced an 11.3 percent increase, to $17.6 billion. The survey also found that the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston led all arts organizations by raising $185.8 million in 2006, while the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, which made its debut on the list, raised $115 million. That amount is especially impressive in light of the resignation of the organization's president in May 2006 amid criticism over rising costs and delays in the construction of a memorial and museum at the World Trade Center site. New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has since taken over as chairman of the organization, which has raised $300 million toward its $350 million goal.

"It is a big deal that [the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation] raised enough money to get on the list," Chronicle editor Stacy Palmer told the New York Sun. "They put a lot of effort into bringing in a lot of very big gifts and saying, 'We need to go ahead and move forward on this.'"

“Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Lincoln Center Lead in Donations.” Bloomberg News 10/29/07.

“Trade Center Memorial Makes Debut on Philanthropies List.” New York Sun 10/30/07.

Barton, Noelle. Schwinn, Elizabeth. “Modest Gains in Giving.” Chronicle of Philanthropy 11/01/07.

Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Secondary Subject(s): Education, Arts and Culture, 9/11 Response
Location(s): Houston, National, New York, New York City, Texas

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