Many fundraisers for non-profit hospitals and health systems predict reduced donations in 2009 will lead to sharp cuts in construction and equipment purchases, according to a new survey <http://www.ahp.org/ric-online/recession-toolkit/pdfs/AHP_Recession_Survey_December2008.pdf> by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy. The survey's nearly 800 respondents from the U.S. and Canada forecast average declines in giving of about 17% and average cuts to their operating budgets of about 12%. "Even in challenging economic times, the AHP recession survey shows our members will not cut back on critically needed programs that communities depend on for the well-being of all their citizens,” said Lisa Hillman, AHP board chair and senior vice president and chief development officer for Anne Arundel Health System in Annapolis, MD. All but 10% of the survey respondents were from the U.S.