America's got heart as giving rises for fifth straight year

New York

CHARITABLE giving in the United States rose for the fifth year in a row in 2014, rebounding past a pre-recession peak to an estimated US$358 billion, according to a report from the Giving USA Foundation.

The report, Giving USA 2015: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2014, shows that contributions rose in all categories - individuals, corporations, foundations and bequests - making up for ground lost during the economic downturn. After reaching US$355 billion in 2007, giving dropped 15 per cent to US$303 billion in 2009, according to the Giving USA data, which is figured in inflation-adjusted dollars.