America’s Wealthiest Donors Slow Their Giving

America’s billionaires gave less in 2012 than in 2011, a new Chronicle of Philanthropy tally shows. The largest gifts announced by American philanthropists in 2012 totaled nearly $5.1 billion, but $3 billion of that was from Warren Buffett’s promise in August to give stock valued at $1 billion to each of three foundations run by his children.

Without Buffett’s pledges, the biggest gifts announced in 2012 would have totaled only $2 billion — far less than 2011’s $2.6 billion.