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Washington - Two of the top charitable givers in the D.C. metro area happen to be Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, who together donated $47 million to area non-profits and community groups last year, but the recent federal takeover of the mortgage giants may put their future contributions at risk.

The federal restructuring of the two companies will include a review of their charitable giving activities, possibly affecting the amount of financial support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can provide to the community, but local leaders are stepping in so the funding doesn't drop off.

"I've walked through the homeless shelters in D.C., Bright Beginnings in Arlington; some of these programs literally would have to close their doors if there be a sudden drop-off in funding," said Chuck Bean,  execuitve director of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington.

Local leaders say a drop in funding is a possibility if the federal government decides to cut the charitable support from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. "In a time when the social safety net is fraying in this region with cutbacks in government and others, we don't think that's the time to lose those two top charitable givers in our region," said Dave Robertson, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The funding issue was first on the agenda at the Council of Governments meeting. "COG and other non-profits have joined together to urge those federal regulators to take into account the impact of Freddie and Fannie's philanthropy in this region," said Michael Knapp, Council president.

The recommended action was to adopt a resolution supporting continued charitable giving by the mortgage giants. "We just don't want this to be a footnote or just an oversight. We think it should be an important part of the federal regulators discussion," said Robertson.

But if it is overlooked, some say it would be difficult for local governments and businesses to make up the difference in contributions. Members of the Council of Governments passed the resolution. The next step will be to reach out to federal regulators so this issue isn't ignored.

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