Philanthropy today is not just about the merit of your cause but also your credibility, your visibility, and the ease of giving.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, 2008 charitable giving was estimated at over $300 billion, roughly 2 percent of the US economy. 2008 was also the first time in over 20 years that inflation-adjusted donations dropped relative to the year before.

While the 2009 figures will not be available for another month, earlier this year the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that the current recession’s impact on charitable giving seems to resemble that of the recession of …