Several major nonprofit groups had strong returns in their 2011 holiday campaigns, an encouraging sign that charity giving may be recovering after the lean years of the recession, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Salvation Army took in $147.6-million in its Red Kettle campaign, up almost 4 percent from 2010, and fourth-quarter revenue for Save the Children’s direct-mail solicitation was 31 percent higher than in the previous year. Oxfam America and Feeding America also experienced significant gains in late-year giving.

Andrew Watt, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said the group’s members are reporting healther-than-expected revenue for 2011. “I think we’re all quite encouraged,” he said.

Read Chronicle of Philanthropy articles on the year-end giving spike and the outlook for 2012.