Gifts of at least $1-million from donors in the USA, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, China and the Middle East totaled $26.3-billion in 2013, up more than a third from the previous year, according to the Million Dollar Donation Report by Coutts and the Indiana Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Education was the biggest beneficiary, with $9.06-billion, or 34 percent, going to institutions of higher education. American philanthropists led the way, with 1,173 donors giving a total of $16.9-billion. It was followed by $2.1-billion from 166 donors in Britain and $1.8-billion from 27 donors in the Middle East. After educational institutions, foundations were the second biggest recipient of $1-million-plus donations, according to the report.

Among the other findings:

• The total value of donations in China more than doubled compared to the previous year due to a $1.3-billion gift from investment holdings firm HNA Group.
• Most gifts originating in Arab Gulf Cooperation Council countries went to causes and organizations outside the Gulf region.
• In the United States, more than one-fifth of the gifts included in the study were larger than $10-million.

The Overview and country reports are attached as pdf files. The information is worth looking at.