NumBytes 36: Up But Down Charity

People and corporations donate more when times are flush and mailboxes fill with the pitch letters highlighting the plight of one cause or another. Mailing list sharing is rampant among the charities, so while most mailings hit the recycling bin, enough must work because donations are inching up again. According to Giving USA, US charities took in $310.57 billion in 2007, $299.81 billion in 2008, $280.30 billion in 2009, and $290.89 billion in 2010.