NEW YORK, NY January 15, 2008 —A new ranking shows Mayor Bloomberg donated $205 million to 1,100 nonprofits last year. That's an increase of tens of millions of dollars from previous years.

The billionaire mayor ranked 7th on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's 2007 list of the country's Top 50 donors. In 2006, he was 10th.

Bloomberg's spokesman says the mayor's increased donations last year "speak to just how seriously he takes the challenge of trying to make the world a better place."

The Chronicle says the mayor declined to name any of the charities to which he gave money last year.

In previous years he's given to organizations that focus on the arts, education, health care and social services.