More Give While Living Americans are increasingly giving their money away while they are still alive, often by creating private foundations and hiring their children to run them or serve on the boards. The number of independent foundations has swelled by 77% in the past 10 years to 63,059, and 9 out of 10 are family foundations. Many are also giving money to their kids and others while they are living. Gallup Poll reports 22% of Americans have received what they view as a large money gift from living relatives. (Chronicle of Philanthropy 8/24/07)