Public would give more if charities spent less on admin, says survey
Howard Lake | 24 March 2005 | News
Nearly a third of the UK population would prefer to donate money to charities if 100% of their contribution went directly to the cause, according to research out today from Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organisation.
The study, launched today to mark the start of Lions Awareness Week, shows that the public still does not believe that charities are sufficiently resourceful and efficient with their administration costs.
The research also found that almost a third of respondents are more likely to help a charity closer to home rather than abroad, as they feel they are able to give something back to their local community. Over half of all respondents said that they already support local events in their local communities.
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Other findings include:
- more women (20%) recognise that charity work adds to the quality of their life, as well as others, compared to men (16%)
- 61% of 24-35’s donate money and goods on a regular basis but 90% of this age group say they do not have enough spare time to volunteer
- more 55-65 year olds volunteer than any other age group and 33% are more likely to support local events and charities close to their home, whereas younger people are more likely to take part in sponsored events
- 35% of 25-34’s will choose a charity if they can personally identify with the cause
- respondents believed that David Beckham would make the best volunteer, especially the 18-24’s
Lions Club International of course can point out that it does not deduct anything from charitable donations it receives, and that about 85-90% of money its members raise is donated to their local communities. John Goodchild, Chairman of Lions Clubs International, British Isles and Ireland said: “People are sceptical as to whether every penny they donate actually reaches the intended cause. However, as one of a few charitable organisations that does not deduct an administration cost from donations, people who volunteer to become Lions can be assured that all money they raise will always goes directly to the cause.”
Psychologist Donna Dawson studied the results of Lions’ research and commented: “The survey… reveals that most people could be persuaded to help with a local cause, especially if they could be sure that all of the funds raised, reached the nominated charitable cause.”
Lions Clubs International is launching its awareness week, which runs between 25 March and 4 April 2005 across the British Isles and Ireland, to promote its work and attract new volunteers.
Following Lions Awareness Week, Lions Clubs International will be involved with providing support for the ‘Kellogg’s Cornflakes Great Walk 2005’. Lions Clubs International is the Official Volunteer Partner for the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Great Walk 2005 and is currently responsible for recruiting marshals and administering applications to volunteer at the 54 10K events across the British Isles and Ireland.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+, by telephone between 7 and 9 March 2005. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.