Charitable Giving is Historically Recession-proof

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University says that historically, charitable giving has been recession-proof.

Contributions to American charities have increased during 39 of the past 40 years in today's dollars, and a change in the tax laws, not the stock market crash, can be blamed for the drop in 1987, said Melissa Brown, associate director of research for the center. Between 69 and 72 percent of people give routinely, she said.

Other research by the center has shown a connection between a drop in the Standard & Poors 500 stock index and a decrease in charitable giving, but the impact is less than 1 percent for every 100 points the index drops. Inflation and other economic factors can reverse the impact.