Fidelity's donor-advised fund, the nation's largest, today reported a 30% increase in contributions and a 14% increase in grant dollars for the first six months of the year-both all-time highs in the fund's first half performance.

New charitable dollars amounted to $512 million, up from $457 million in the first half of 2010.

Fidelity also announced it changed the fund's name to Fidelity Charitable, from the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Outgoing grants also set a record for the first half, with more than 170,000, totaling $604 million, going to nonprofit organizations nationwide. The figures are up 12% and 14%, respectively, from a year ago.

"This is record-breaking activity for this time of year, and it reinforces that donors are starting their charitable planning earlier, and that more are recognizing the benefits of donor-advised funds," said Sarah Libbey, president of Fidelity Charitable.

Since 2005, the total number of donor-advised funds has grown by more than 51% and now outnumbers private foundations by a margin of more than two to one. Since its inception in 1991, Fidelity Charitable has made more than $11 billion in donor-recommended grants to more than 140,000 charitable organizations across the nation.

"In recent years, we've responded by expanding our programs and services,'' Libbey said. "Our new name and tagline-'Make More of a Difference'-reflects our broader mission to be a resource for individuals, families and their advisors, and to help them give more by making giving simple and effective."

Fidelity Charitable new name will be rolled out over the coming months, officials said

Favorable market conditions in the first half encouraged donors to continue to leverage assets in their financial portfolios to fund their giving accounts, according to Fidelity. Appreciated securities comprised 59% of total contributions, up from 51% during the first six months of 2010.

Contributions in the form of complex assets-illiquid securities such as privately held C- and S-Corp stock, limited partnership interests and certain publicly traded stock-more than tripled in the first half, climbing to 8% of contribution dollars.

"This increasing trend toward donations of non-cash assets illustrates the deepening integration of charitable planning into overall financial planning. This activity, combined with the current giving momentum, points to great progress in this sector," said Libbey. "As donors and the advisors who assist them become more strategic about giving, it ultimately frees up more money for charitable organizations. It's a win all around."

Fidelity Charitable's 2011 fiscal year also showed very strong donor activity. Incoming contributions ending June 30 were up 31% from fiscal year 2010, resulting in $1.7 billion in new charitable dollars. Donors recommended grants totaling more than $1.2 billion to nonprofits nationwide, up 15% from the prior fiscal year. Fidelity Charitable ended its fiscal year with $5.6 billion in assets, up 29% from fiscal year 2010.

-Jim McConville