WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Despite fears charitable donations would decline in disaster-filled 2005 due to "donor fatigue," U.S. charities received $245 billion.
"It's so logical to think that there would be this donor fatigue, but there's not much evidence of it," said Eugene Tempel, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Some charities not connected to disaster-relief efforts told The Washington Post that last year's catastrophes, particularly Hurricane Katrina, actually helped fundraising efforts because they heightened awareness of non-profit groups that aid the needy.
"I think it's going to be a banner year," said Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. In a recent survey, the publication found that many of the nation's biggest charities are raising as much or more than they did in the late 1990s, when the strong economy and booming stock market boosted charitable donations 50 percent from 1996 to 2000.
