WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Almost half of U.S. adults say they gave less to charity this year, and only 8 percent report giving more, a poll released Wednesday indicated.
About 40 percent of those surveyed expect to give the same amount in 2011. The poll was conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion. About one fifth, 21 percent, said they will be able to make larger donations in the coming year, while 21 percent said they expect to do no charitable giving and 15 percent expect to give less.
The same share of respondents, 46 percent, said they gave the same this year as reported giving less.
More than half, 56 percent, said they would give more if their economic circumstances improve.
More than one-third, 36 percent, of respondents said they did most of their charitable giving through a church or other place of worship. Almost one-quarter, 23 percent, said they mailed in contributions and 15 percent gave through Web sites.
Angus Reid, a Canadian-based polling organization, surveyed 1,005 members of its Springboard America panel online on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. The margin of error is 3.1 percent.
