After two years of decline, foundation giving recovered in most major program areas in 2004, Philanthropy News Digest (PND) reported March 6.

The data comes from a report issued by the Foundation Center last week "Foundation Giving Trends: An Update on Funding Priorities," which found that the number of grants issued increased by five percent in 2004, while grants from the very largest community and private foundations grew by eight percent. Programs in health and science saw the largest increases.

A ten-year, $750 million grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Washington D.C.-based Vaccine Fund to support the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization significantly bolstered these numbers, however, aiding the rise of the health sector's share of giving from 19.5 percent take in 2003 to 22.3 percent in 2004. PND reports that this grant "led to record levels of support for children and youth and the economically disadvantaged."

The Foundation Giving Trends report tracked 1,172 of the largest U.S. foundations, with giving totaling $15.5 billion (approximately half of all U.S. giving). Download the PDF online to read the full report.