While Pew's resources are growing," he went on, "competition for the charitable dollar also is growing.

"Our mission has been to get more people involved in organized giving, creating more charitable dollars, and we're thrilled with our results," she said.

But giving by corporations, which accounts for just under 5 cents of every charitable dollar, fell by 2 percent after inflation.

Now, many believe that the Sept. 11 attacks, rather than draining away scarce charitable dollars, may have increased the amount people gave to charity over all.

"You have to ask them what they want to accomplish with their charitable dollar."

They know it as the payroll checkoff program that funnels their charitable dollars to social service agencies in their own communities.

From sundown Friday until after the stars came out Saturday, not a single formal resolution passed, an official photograph taken or a charitable dollar disbursed.

Sometimes, it seems that the only thing the big givers have in common is an intense desire for hands-on control of their charitable dollars.

The decision to close Ketchum Inc. comes at a time of intense competition for charitable dollars.

Competition is really stiff for the charitable dollar.