Million-Dollar Donations Are on the Decline in 2012

America’s wealthy are in a less generous mood so far this year. The number of donations of $1 million or more has dropped 8 percent since the beginning of 2012 compared with the same period last year, according to a Chronicle of Philanthropy tally.

Since the start of 2012, The Chronicle has confirmed, 318 gifts of $1 million or more have been made, totaling $2.5 billion. In the first half of 2011 there were fewer such gifts, 292, but the overall total was larger, $2.7 billion.