Wealthy Donors Tracked in Survey

A survey of its wealthy clients by the Citigroup Private Bank has found that the September 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath led 44 percent of those responding to the survey to increase or change the focus of their charitable giving. The remaining 56 percent said the events did not affect their philanthropy.

Citigroup Private Bank, which advises people with high net worth, distributed more than 5,800 questionnaires and received responses from 135 people.

Of those taking part in the survey, which was conducted last fall, 86 percent said they had increased the size of their gifts over the past decade and, of those who provided a reason, 79 percent cited an increase in their wealth or earnings as the cause.

Sixty-eight percent said the state of the economy had some influence over their giving, but only 7 percent said the economy was “a determining factor.”

More than 60 percent of donors responding to the Citigroup Private Bank survey said they typically give more than 5 percent of their income to charity each year. The most popular beneficiaries of their charitable donations: education and religious groups.