WASHINGTON -- Most charities once refused cash carrying a whiff of scandal. Now they often are accepting -- and in some cases seeking -- campaign contributions from disgraced Wall Street firms and figures that have been unloaded by politicians eager to escape public outrage.

President Barack Obama, White House economic adviser Larry Summers and several members of Congress said they have given away money they received from fallen banks or mortgage companies and disgraced financiers like Bernard Madoff and R. Allen Stanford.

In years past, charities have refused tobacco company money, gambling winnings and contributions from companies whose labor and benefits policies they disagree with. But with charities reporting substantial drops in giving in 2008, many philanthropies feel they aren't in a position to be as selective.

The nation's financial scandals have had a direct impact on charities: The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, for example, lost $15.2 million -- virtually all its assets -- which were invested with indicted financier Bernard Madoff. But in Congress, those same scandals have provided charities with an additional spigot of cash, and politicians are emerging as influential -- if controversial -- new philanthropists.

Ellen Roman, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Connecticut, part of the national network of Boys and Girls Clubs, got $4,000 from Senate Banking Committee chairman Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.), who received the money as a donation from fallen mortgage giant Countrywide Financial Corp.