Donations to charities dropped 11 percent in '09

WASHINGTON - A new ranking of the nation's 400 biggest charities shows donations dropped by 11 percent overall last year as the Great Recession ended - the worst decline in 20 years since the Chronicle of Philanthropy began keeping a tally.

The Philanthropy 400 report to be released Monday shows such familiar names as United Way and the Salvation Army, both based near Washington, continue to dominate the ranking, despite the 2009 declines. The survey accounts for $68.6 billion in charitable contributions.

An earlier report by the Giving USA Foundation found overall charitable giving declined 3.6 percent last year. That report included giving to private foundations and to smaller charities, while the Chronicle's survey includes only top charities raising money from the public.

"It shows that charities are really having a tough time, and this is some of the most successful charities in the United States," Chronicle editor Stacy Palmer said. "Usually bigger charities are more resilient, so that's the part that is still surprising."

The charities may have taken such a hit as giving shifted to smaller, local groups and because people gave less money to arts and cultural groups, Palmer said.

The Salvation Army, based in Alexandria, Va., maintained its No. 2 ranking after United Way, with $1.7 billion in contributions, despite a decline of 8.4 percent. "The only caveat is our Christmas was extraordinary," said Maj. George Hood.

The Salvation Army also is grappling with ways to lure younger donors. Last week, the group signed its first agreement to receive donations by text message, which it will roll out this Christmas season, Hood said.

Only four charities in the top 10 reported increased contributions over last year, including Alexandria, Va.-based Catholic Charities USA, which reported a 66 percent jump.