Philanthropy is alive and well in the United States. Americans have always been generous to charitable causes, and that tradition has continued even through the most devastating economic downturn since the Great Depression.

According to Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates public charities, Americans donated more than $300 billion to charitable causes or organizations in 2009. Although the amount is slightly less than the previous year, the decline in total giving has been considerably more modest than expected in light of the country's economic situation.

This week, billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett announced a joint effort to challenge other ultra-wealthy Americans to pledge at least half of their wealth to charity. A handful of wealthy couples have already publicly joined the campaign, named "The Giving Pledge."

Such grand gestures aren't new. The late actor Paul Newman made news in 1982 when he created a company to sell his "Newman's Own" salad dressing, and announced he would donate 100 percent of the profits to charity. To date, the Newman's Own Foundation has donated nearly $300 million to charities around the world.

We've all read stories about ordinary individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to charitable organizations, often sacrificing their own financial security or personal safety to do so. My own reaction to these stories has often been a feeling of guilt that I should be more generous.

An initiative called "Bolder Giving," created by a foundation whose mission is to promote philanthropy in all forms, created a Web site, www.boldergiving.org, that presents these types of inspirational stories in such a way that encourages, rather than intimidates.

The site contains helpful resources to assist donors and their advisors in their efforts to encourage broader and more significant charitable efforts. The organization has identified the following six keys they believe trigger "bold" philanthropy:

1. A life-changing experience, such as the sale of a successful business or a life-threatening illness
2. Confidence that they can survive on their remaining assets
3. A connection with the charitable cause
4. Receipt of an invitation to give boldly
5. Examples of inspiring role models to emulate
6. Ongoing support of their charitable efforts

Some charitable efforts can provide benefits to both the donor and recipient. When carefully structured, these planned gifts can increase a donor's income stream, provide immediate and/or future income tax benefits, and lower estate taxes. Such gifts may allow you to make considerably more substantial donations to charity than you thought you could afford.

Don't forget money isn't the only measurement of philanthropy. According to a recent report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 63.4 million adult Americans, or nearly 27 percent of the adult population, volunteered for a charitable cause in 2009. The increase of approximately 1.6 million people was the largest in six years.

It's important to teach future generations the importance of giving. One of my close friends comes from a very prosperous family. From early childhood, her father taught her that because many material blessings had been given to her, it would be her responsibility to share those blessings with others. As a social worker, she does pro bono counseling. She donates time and money to her favorite local causes, and she has established a nonprofit organization that creates and supports education programs for African orphans. The mother of another friend recently joined the Peace Corps after retiring from her job.

We ordinary mortals may not be able to give away half of our assets or travel to Africa, but there are many ways we can create a significant charitable legacy, regardless of our financial situation.

Elaine Morgillo is a certified financial planner and president of Morgillo Financial Management Inc. She has offices in Portsmouth and North Andover, Mass., and can be reached at .