Fund raisers this year battled a still-uncertain economy as they tried to increase charitable giving.

The most-viewed post on this blog summarized a report with dozens of ideas about how to increase charitable giving. But fund raisers were also looking for creative ways to inject new life into traditional approaches, as demonstrated by another popular most about a modern twist on the gala.

Here are the five most-viewed Prospecting posts of 2011:

Nonprofit Leaders Suggest Ways to Increase Charitable Giving
A new report offers 32 suggestions, such as dropping terms that mean little to most donors.

Flash Mob Surprises Guests at Fund-Raising Dinner
An antipoverty group lets its mission inspire a creative approach to a traditional gala.

Two-Thirds of Donors Plan to Cut Back on Giving This Fall
Job losses and uncertainty about the state of the economy are causing caution among many charity supporters, a survey finds.

Charity Wins Donors With Promise Never to Ask for Another Gift
Smile Train, a group that provides free cleft-palate surgery to poor kids overseas, has found a direct-mail piece that does a good job of winning new donors.

Fund Raisers Mull Effects of a Double-Dip Recession
Seasoned fund raisers speculate about what’s ahead in these uncertain economic times and offer advice on how to approach donors.