The global recession has delivered a double-whammy to charities: Need has multiplied while donations have slumped. The resulting funding gap has focused the minds and strategies of donors -- be they the general public, wealthy individuals or companies.

The U.K.'s 170,000 charities received GBP 9.9 billion ($15.3 billion) in the 12 months to April 2009, down 11% from the previous year, according to the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.