One of the biggest factors in charitable giving this year has been the grassroots Occupy movement, which has highlighted issues of income inequality and corporate greed. Whereas in the past, people making donations were more inclined to give to international organizations, more funds are going to local causes to help those feeling the effects of the economic downturn.

In an interview with Reuters, the Foundation Center's vice president for strategic philanthropy, Lisa Philip, said there were a number of studies that showed changes in what types of causes were getting support.

"Coming out in the new statistics and media reports [of Occupy Wall Street] is the idea that many fellow Americans are living paycheck to paycheck," Philip said in an interview with the news provider. "When human-service or basic-need organizations reach out, there's going to be more receptivity among donors."

In another recent poll, Charity Navigator found that human service nonprofits, which give necessities to the poor in communities, was the No. 1 choice for those planning to donate this year.