Education Sees Drop in Average Gift From Wealthy Donors

The average size of gifts from wealthy individuals to education at all levels was $12,759 in 2009, down from $28,329 in 2007 (with the 2007 figures adjusted for inflation), a drop of 55 percent, according to data released Tuesday by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. The center conducts biennial surveys of giving by "high net worth individuals," those from households with an income greater than $200,000 and/or a net worth of at least $1,000,000, excluding the value of their primary residence. The size of all gifts from those studied fell by 34.9 percent.