The tough U.S. economy isn't expected to diminish the amount of money given to charity by corporations, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported June 12.

Corporate giving increased 5.6 percent in 2007, and about two-thirds of the 155 companies surveyed gave more last year than they had in 2006, according to the report from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. Giving generally held up even though more than half the companies said their profits were lower in 2007.

More than 80 percent of corporate leaders surveyed said that changing economic conditions should play an "unimportant" or "neutral" role in corporate giving, and about 90 percent said companies should maintain cash reserves or endowments so that giving is not affected by the firm's bottom line.