American-based charities are still reeling from the significant decline in charitable contributions and starting to prepare for a lean holiday season.

• The same number of people are giving money to  nonprofit organizations as before the recession, just with smaller donations.
• Many nonprofits are having to make the tough decisions to cut back on staff while the demand for their services has only increased.
• Charities report that volunteerism is up this fall.

Facts & Figures

• 74% of Americans plan to increase their charitable giving once the economy improves.
• The most successful fundraising organizations expect to see their income go down by an average of 9% this year.
• State unemployment rates remain at 10%.

Best Quote

“I say this to our staff all the time: ‘Our mission is not in a recession.’” – Nancy Brown, CEO of American Heart Association

Tags: holiday giving, holidays, philanthropy, recession