Big-time philanthropists scaling back their giving.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Even big-pocket philanthropists are feeling the recession's pinch.

The 10 largest gifts by individuals to charity in the United States in 2001 totaled $4.6 billion, down nearly 60 percent from $11.07 billion the previous year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

"The amounts are definitely smaller," said Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which conducts the annual survey based on publicly announced gifts. "It's the economy. Some of the big givers in the past were technology donors. The slippage in technology stocks affects that. There weren't other pockets of wealth out there that were all of a sudden feeling philanthropic."

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates retained the top spot on the list. This year ...