$190-Billion Donated to Charity in 1999, Says New Report

• Americans gave 1.8 percent of their personal incomes to charity, and the amount donated totaled 2.1 percent of the gross domestic product. The last time giving was that large a share of the gross domestic product was in 1971.
  
  
• For the fourth year in a row, the rise in giving by foundations, at nearly 14 percent, outstripped the growth of both individual donations, which rose 5.5 percent, and corporate gifts, which increased by 11.8 percent.
  
  
• Nearly all types of charities saw giving increase by more than the 2.1-percent inflation figure. International groups were the biggest winners, with a nearly 21-percent increase. The next highest rise was achieved by environmental groups, which had a gain of 8.7 percent. Gifts to arts organizations grew the least, by 2.8 percent.
  
  
• Only one category of charities suffered a decline in giving, and the drop totaled just 1.4 percent. The decrease was found in a category that includes United Ways, Jewish federations, consumer-protection groups, and other organizations classified as "public-benefit" charities.