Charitable giving lowest in half a century

The recession has caused the biggest drop in charitable giving in the last 50 years, according to Charity Navigator.

That’s particularly bad news for those charities that rely on year-end donations, notes the on-line charity rating organization.

“It is especially critical this holiday season that donors give not just with their heart, but also with their head,” Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger said in a news release: “Smart donors seek out charities that are financially healthy, that have a culture of accountability and transparency, and that deliver lasting benefits for the people and communities they serve.”