While total donations to the 100 largest U.S. charities rose 3% last year, United Way Worldwide, the perennial No. 1,  continued its long decline.

  • Since 2007, Alexandria, Va.-based United Way Worldwide has seen its donations fall by a sixth. The decline reflects the problems plaguing many social-service agencies that try to be many things to many donors amid a rise of narrower, more targeted charities focusing on, say, a specific illness.
  • Task Force for Global Health remains No. 2 on the Forbeslist despite a dramatic decline in donations caused by a one-time gift that wasn't repeated. Based in Decatur, Ga., the nonprofit routes donated medical supplies to foreign locations.
  • By contrast Feeding America, which continues as No. 3 on the Forbes list, saw its donations rise 11%  from $2.15 billion to $2.38 billion, most of that donated foodstuffs.
  • The venerable Salvation Army, a Christian church as well as a social service agency, is still No. 4, but its squadron of red-kettle collectors has been under stress. Donations to the Alexandria, Va.-based charity fell slightly from $1.9 billion to $1.88 billion.
  • There's a new No. 5 this year: St. Jude Children's Research Center.  The Chicago-headquartered network of youth facilities and health clubs fell to No. 8 as its fundraising dropped 13% from $1.2 billion to $1.04 billion.

The Forbes list also provides financial efficiencies for each charity and changes in those ratios from the prior period. For that detail, plus more information on each charity, including top pay, click here.

Read the full link by William P. Barrett about charities from Forbes