More Holiday Donors Eye Human-Service Groups

As the lingering economic downturn, the “Occupy” movement, government cutbacks, and rising poverty rates are drawing more attention to economic inequality, people planning to give to charity this holiday season are more focused on helping organizations that assist the needy, Reuters writes.

Surveys indicate an uptick in giving this holiday season, and a Charity Navigator poll found that food banks, homeless shelters, and other human-service groups top the list of where donors plan to give.

“Coming out in the new statistics and media reports is the idea that many fellow Americans are living paycheck to paycheck,” said Lisa Philp of the Foundation Center. “When human-service or basic-need organizations reach out, there’s going to be more receptivity among donors.”