According to a report issued by the Giving USA Foundation, American individuals and institutions gave $306.7 billion in charitable donations in 2007. This is the largest amount ever given by Americans and reflects a 1% increase (on an inflation-adjusted basis) over the $294.9 billion donated in 2006. The former chairman of the foundation,

Richard T. Jolly, told The New York Times that even in a slowing and troubled economy, it is significant that charitable giving continues to expand. “While it's true that there has been slower growth, the important thing is that there is growth.”

Among all the different types of gifts, giving to international causes and organizations showed the most dramatic growth: $13.2 billion to international aid agencies, reflecting a 12.9% rise from 2006. Some $1.5 billion of this amount was dispensed through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, America's largest international aid organization.

A recent study by Campbell & Company on generational giving reveals that Americans born after 1981 are the demographic most likely to be concerned about, and donate money for, international causes, while those born earlier tend to be more focused on giving help closer to home. The younger generation's initiative to offer financial support internationally is reflected in the latest internet trend, in which members use social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace to inspire one another to give. Facebook participated in a “Causes Giving Challenge” last winter, which aimed to introduce millions to the idea of using new Web 2.0 technologies “for good.” Approximately 80,000 people donated, raising $1.7 million for around 3,000 organizations.

Additionally, a small group of Harvard University alumni calling itself the Harvard Alumni for Social Action, or HASA, has been trying to prod the university to use its wealth to better the world by engaging in philanthropic work such as supporting struggling colleges in Africa. HASA reflects the growing debate over university endowments and whether their continued accumulation of assets serves a charitable purpose. So far, HASA has established a $331,000 scholarship fund for African graduate students and a fund to support mthe University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Sir John M. Templeton, a philanthropist whose numerous charities give away $70 million a year, died at age 95 in early July. In 1972 he founded the Templeton prize to promote progress in the movement to reconcile religion and science. Recipients of the prize are required to exhibit exemplary conduct relating to love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity. The prize was first bestowed on Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received $85,000 for her charities. In the 35 years since then, the prize has grown to $1.6 million.