European charities express varying degrees of optimism that donations will rise next year, according to a new survey of nearly 650 nonprofit organizations in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The survey, presented at the 29th International Fundraising Congress in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands, was released by the Resource Alliance, the London nonprofit group that organized the conference, and Blackbaud, the Charleston, S.C., software company.

Eighty percent of French charities in the survey — more than in any other nation — said they believe contributions will increase next year.

More than 50 percent of Dutch charities and about 48 percent of Italian organizations said donations will rise in 2010, but only 40 percent of charities in both the U.K. and Germany expected an increase.