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(Houston, TX – January 27, 2009)  Despite shell-shocked financial markets and almost unanimous expectations that the U.S. economy will not recover until the end of 2009 at the earliest, a new survey of major donors and foundations in four states across the country found that 34 percent still plan to donate as much money to charitable causes as last year – and another five percent of survey respondents are considering giving more than their 2008 total.

The new study, conducted last month by Dini Partners of Houston, surveyed 54 major philanthropists in Colorado, New York, Oklahoma and Texas about the economy and its impact on charitable giving in 2009.  Of the 54 participants in the survey, 34 are high net worth individual contributors or representatives of philanthropic families; 14 are foundation trustees or officers; and six represent historically philanthropic corporations.

“This survey was designed to offer some of the biggest givers in America a way to speak to the nonprofit sector about what to expect in the coming year and beyond,” said David Jones, principal and managing partner of Dini Partners.  “Thankfully, the news from these generous givers, who routinely demonstrate their deep commitment to causes and institutions, is not as bad as many in the nonprofit sector feared.”

Jones added:  “During these challenging economic times, the Dini Survey suggests that the institutions and groups that have paid close attention to their major donors – engaging them, working on those relationships – will likely fare better than others in 2009.”