Strong Year-End Donations Helped Many Charities Rebound From Bad Economy

Strong holiday-season contributions have made many charities optimistic that their fund-raising returns will improve sharply in 2011.

Sixty-two percent of 245 nonprofit organizations surveyed by The Chronicle reported that they raised more in November and December 2010 than at the same time in 2009. But even as some groups are rebounding quickly from the recession, others continue to struggle. Twenty-four percent of organizations reported year-end gains of more than 20 percent, while 28 percent reported drops in giving. One in 10 said giving was flat during the holidays.