Philanthropic giving tends to peak in December as big and small donors alike squeeze their donations in before the end-of-year tax deadline. 

This week, WNYC's Money Talking takes a look at trends in philanthropy with regular contributor Rana Foroohar of Time magazine and Susan Wolf Ditkoff, a partner at The Bridgespan Group, a firm that advises nonprofits, organizations and philanthropists. 

They examine what happens when business metrics are applied to the nonprofit world and whether charities are influenced by big donors. 

Foroohar and Wolf Ditkoff also weigh in on what happens if the charitable deduction is capped or eliminated as lawmakers hammer out a deal on the fiscal cliff.

Plus, with just a few days left before the new year, Money Talking examines what individuals looking to donate $1, $100 or $1000 should think about as they make their last minute gifts.