from Reuters:

World’s wealthy looking to “give while they live”

Philanthropy by the world’s rich recovered in 2009 in all regions but North America after undergoing a sharp drop the previous year due to the global financial crisis, the Merrill Lynch-Capgemini World Wealth Report found.

… The report, based on surveys with more than 1,100 wealthy investors, found more than 80 percent gave to charity because it is socially responsible, while social networking and tax benefits were given as lesser reasons.