America’s slowing economy has inspired some of the richest in the nation to increase their donations to charitable causes this year, writes Andrew Farrell, a columnist for Forbes magazine.

A survey by Prince & Associates, a research firm, found that six in ten Americans with wealth surpassing $30-million intend to give more to charity this year than last year. And of those intending to donate more, 87 percent cited greater need as a motivation.

See The Chronicle’s database showing all the gifts of $1-million or more that have been announced in 2008, plus you can see who has publicly announced the biggest donations to charity this year.