Can Declining Gifts Be a Sign of Economic Recovery?

While many charities reported a strong year-end giving season, which some see as a sign that donations will be strong in 2011, other groups—especially those that focus on social services—say fund raising is getting worse.

And that just might be a sign that the economy is on the mend, painful as it may be for the groups still struggling to meet increased demands for services from people who are jobless or are suffering other economic troubles.