U.S. charitable giving estimated to be $306.39 billion in 2007
Up 3.9 percent despite worries about gas prices, mortgage crisis and housing market
Glenview, Ill. (June 23, 2008)—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^TM.
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Foundations’ Investment Returns Fell to 9.9 % in Fiscal Year 2007
Wilton, CT - The 300 independent/private foundations and community foundations participating in the 2008 Commonfund Benchmarks Study® of Foundations reported an average total return of 9.9 percent (net of fees) in Fiscal Year 2007, down from the 13.7 percent return reported in last year’s Study.  Returns and all other data in the Study were for the calendar year from January 1 to December 31, 2007.
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Most Grant Makers Plan to Increase Giving in 2008
According to this article from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, “Fifty-four percent of foundations expect giving to increase in 2008, while 28 percent project a decrease this year, according to a study released today by the Foundation Center.” To read the full article, visit http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=4568.

The Wired Wealthy: Using the Internet to Connect with Your Middle and Major Donors
Convio, Sea Change Strategies and Edge Research completed an in-depth survey and study by that tries to answer the question: What role, if any, can the Internet play in cultivating, securing and stewarding major donors?
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