Some $212 billion in charitable giving was generated in 2001, a 0.5% rate of growth significantly lower than the 6% rate of growth in 2000, according to the 2002 edition of Giving USA, a publication of the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy, researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, released June 20. Arguably the most surprising news is that charitable giving centered around September 11th activities constituted less than 1% of all giving for the year. Produced by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (AAFRC)Trust for Philanthropy, in partnership with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, the Giving USA study looks at giving trends in four areas: gifts from living individuals; gifts made through bequests; gifts from corporations and corporate foundations; and foundation grants. For all 2001 giving tracked in the study, individuals represented 75.8% $160.7 billion), foundation grants came in at 12.2 % ($25.9 billion), bequests contributed 7.7% ($16.3 billion), and corporate giving 4.3% ($9.05 billion). In a year marked by a damaged economy, new combinations of causes to which funds were directed, and both new and decreasing current donor bases, September 11th was not the only influence on giving. The nearly $2 billion in gifts made as part of disaster recovery and relief efforts around September 11th accounted for only 0.9% of the total given in 2001. While estimates on future corporate and foundation gifts were not included in the figure, individuals reportedly gave $1.25 billion, and Foundation Center estimates peg corporate giving and foundation grants at $410 million and $195 million respectively. The study points out that in years where several key economic indicators -- such as personal income growth and corporate pretax profits -- grow slowly or fall, the rate of growth in giving tends to follow suit. Yet 2001 giving still managed to come in at levels of over 2% of gross domestic product. See more information, including details on ordering the study. Reprinted from June 20, 2002 NPTalk.