Economic Recovery Lifts Charitable Gift Fund

In a sign that giving by wealthy people has recovered from the recession, the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund reported that contributions in the first quarter of this year reached $269-million—the second largest first-quarter total in 20 years and a 25 percent increase in the number of donations over the same time in 2010.

The Fidelity fund also reported that donors gave charities $293-million in grants from their accounts. That was another 20-year quarterly record and an increase of 8 percent.