Fidelity Charitable’s Contributions, Grants Set Records

The announcement said favorable market conditions in the first half encouraged donors to continue to leverage key assets in their financial portfolios to fund their Fidelity Charitable Giving Accounts.

• Appreciated securities comprised 59% of total contributions, up from 51% during the first six months of 2010.
• Contributions in the form of complex assets—illiquid securities, limited partnership interests and certain publicly traded stock—more than tripled in the first half, climbing to 8% of contribution dollars. 

Fidelity Charitable's 2011 fiscal year also showed robust donor activity. Incoming contributions during the fiscal year ended June 30 grew by 31% from fiscal year 2010, resulting in $1.7 billion in new charitable dollars. Donors recommended grants totaling more than $1.2 billion to nonprofits nationwide, up 15% from the prior fiscal year.

Fidelity Charitable ended its fiscal year with $5.6 billion in assets under management, an increase of 29% from fiscal year 2010.

The organization reported that since its inception, it has made some $11 billion in donor-recommended grants to more than 140,000 charitable organizations across the U.S.

Fidelity Charitable, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, said it would roll out its new name over the coming months. "Our new name and tagline—'Make More of a Difference'— reflects our broader mission to be a resource for individuals, families and their advisors, and to help them give more by making giving simple and effective," Libbey said.