Don’t count on America’s wealthiest to help people struggling during the recession—philanthropic spending could go down, experts say

• Experts say that a possible U.S. recession could reel back total philanthropic spending, and studies show that the downturn could hurt donating in the long-term. With the possibility of an economic crisis being that of a coin toss, some donors may pull back to protect their finances. 

A recession is looming like a dark cloud over the heads of many working-class Americans, already struggling to keep up with rising costs of living. But America’s richest givers—set to pass...