Posted on 8th December 2011
Although the proportion of donors who gave more than £100 to charity last year is just 7%, their donations account for 45% of the total amount given. This is a key finding in the latest report UK Giving 2011 as part of the long-running study of charitable giving, commissioned by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
The proportion of people giving over £100 has remained fairly stable. University of Kent researcher Dr Beth Breeze said: “The pool of highest-level donors is thankfully reliable and yet seemingly resistant to being noticeably broadened or deepened, hence the much-needed recent push by government and other institutions to encourage more people to give and to encourage those who do give, to give more.”
The annually published survey first created in 2004, is carried out by the Office for National Statistics three times a year among over 3,000 UK adults aged 16 years or over. It shows that over a million more people gave to charity last year but average donations have fallen, leaving the overall total at £11bn – almost the same as last year allowing for inflation. Average monthly donations fell from £12 in 2009/10 to £11, In real terms, donations are now worth £900m less than the amount given in 2007/08, the year before the UK entered recession.
Other findings include:
• The percentage of people giving has increased from 56% in 2009/10 to 58% in 2010/11.
• The number of donors using Gift Aid has increased from 32% to 42% since the survey began seven years ago.
• The proportion of donors giving online almost doubled between 2008/9 and 2009/10 from 4-7% but remained the same during 2010/11.
• Women aged 45-64 years are the most likely to give and are more generous, giving a median average of £20 a month.
CAF chief executive John Low said: “The government’s focus on giving is welcome, yet this report shows that donation levels remain stubbornly flat. If we are to create a stronger culture of giving in the UK, this will require continued commitment and investment by both the government and charities.”
Medical research was the most popular cause with over 11m people giving on a monthly basis. Hospitals and children were the next most popular causes to support. Environment, sports and the arts were at the bottom of the league table.
NCVO chief executive Sir Stuart Etherington added: “These figures also highlight that charities will have to work extra hard to attract donors and keep pace with inflation at a time of economic challenges and increased demand for their services. The ‘quality of the ask’ remains essential - the sector needs to build links between donors and causes and send out a strong message that all giving makes a difference.”
To download a free copy of the report click here
