Orange County Register

The current economic turmoil has claimed another victim: charitable giving. A new survey says 60% of small-business owners have adjusted their contributions because of the economy, reports The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The impact on charities is significant because 27 million U.S. businesses are considered small (fewer than 500 employees) and provide half the jobs and gross domestic product.

The survey quizzed 1,033 small-business owners whos’s annual revenues were $100,000 to $250,000. It was conducted by Chamberlain Research Consultants for The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Advanta Bank Corp., which offers credit cards to small businesses.

Here’s why they’re cutting back:

The median contribution in the past year was between $500 and $2,000.

Traditionally, small businesses give more than money:

All of this giving totals about $40 billion annually, according to a 2004 study by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Other findings:

• Social service charities receive 62% of small-business giving
• Company promotion is one motivation for philanthropy for 43%
• 38% of respondents gave less than a year earlier; 14% gave more

MORE SMALL BUSINESS NEWS:

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• O.C. jammies maker goes to the beach
• August sales of O.C. businesses plummet
• O.C. firm finds simple ways to ‘go green’
• O.C. ‘Cookie Lady’ celebrates tasty 15
• Downtown Disney’s Libby Lu flips for photos
• O.C. business sales rebound
• Unpaid payroll taxes total $58 billion
• No new jobs at California small businesses
• Small-business jobs growth shows weakness
• Aktino raises $14.2 million
• RF Nano raises $8 million venture capital
• Irvine biomed firm raises $20.1 million
• Microsoft buys Aliso Viejo-based DATAllegro
• O.C. venture capital investment continues to shine

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