A new report finds that American foundations donated to international causes in 2007 more then ever before. The forecast for 2008 giving, despite the global economic downturn, is surprisingly optimistic. "International Grant Making IV: An Update on U.S. Foundation Trends" was co-produced by the Foundation Center and the Council on Foundations. The report found that American foundations gave an estimated $5.4 billion in 2007, up almost a half billion from 2006. International grants also saw a significant increase, up 50% from 2002. A survey done in the report concludes that nearly half of the respondents expect to increase their international giving in 2008 and only 7% expect to make fewer grants. Despite the additional international giving, another survey question in the report found that nearly three-fifths of respondents agreed that "the more demanding post-9/11 regulatory environment discourages giving to non-US-based organizations." The entire report can be purchased at the Foundation Center's website.