# Giving to charity remains a priority in economic downturn

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/05/28/giving-charity-remains-priority-economic-downturn/
- Published: 2010-05-28T08:42:46+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Most people have not cut the amount they give to charity during the economic downturn.
An online survey conducted by JustGiving.com, the UK’s largest online fundraising
platform, shows that on average 41% say they give the same amount, with 15% saying
they have increased the amount they give.

JustGiving has produced a report based on the most comprehensive online survey of
attitudes to charitable giving in the economic downturn. Conducted between January
2009 and February 2010, 17,927 respondents were randomly selected to complete a 
questionnaire after making a donation to charity on JustGiving.com.

JustGiving’s findings show that people are less likely to cut back on charitable
giving than they are on other expenses, even during a recession. People are considering
cutting back on money spent on eating out (an average of 73% of survey respondents
over a year) and holidays (54%) before lowering the amount they give to charity (
34.5%).

## Advertisement

However, more people would consider cutting back on giving to charity than gym membership(
24%), satellite television, mobile phones and paying into a savings account (only
20% of people in each case). Keeping fit, saving for the future and having the latest
mobile phone and television are perhaps seen as more necessary expenses than giving
to charity.

The number of respondents giving more to charity increased as the year went on, 
as did the average donation made on JustGiving.com. This dropped to £27 (including
Gift Aid) in May and June 2009, and peaked at £44 in December (typically a strong
month for average gifts on JustGiving.com).

Two thirds of people (65.5%) say that they won’t reconsider how much they give to
charity in the next three months. Less than 2% of respondents said they might stop
giving to charity altogether.

“This is really encouraging news,” says Jonathan Waddingham, digital strategist 
at JustGiving. “It shows that whilst the economic climate undoubtedly had an impact
on donations, most people are no longer looking to cut back on their donations. 
In fact, a significant minority of donors have increased their gifts, with anecdotal
feedback telling us that those who still had money to give felt a responsibility
to make up for any shortfall charities are feeling in the downturn.”

ENDS

### About JustGiving

JustGiving (www.justgiving.com) is the UK’s largest online fundraising platform 
and has helped over 11 million people raise over £625 million for over 9,000 charities
since 2001. In 2009, JustGiving’s CEO Zarine Kharas was awarded the RSA’s Albert
Medal for “democratising fundraising and technology for charities” and JustGiving
was awarded the “best use of technology award” at The Sunday Times Tech Track 100
awards.

### Press contacts

If you would like:

– a copy of the full report, which puts the survey results in the context of the
wider economic climate

– to arrange an interview

– more information on JustGiving,

please contact pr***@********ng.com

 * **[Recession in Ireland hits fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/10/08/recession-ireland-hits-fundraising/)**(
   8 October 2008)
 * **[Credit crunch means rising costs and increased demands on charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/10/14/credit-crunch-means-rising-costs-and-increased-demands-charities/)**(
   14 October 2008)
 * **[What fundraisers need to survive an economic crisis](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/10/17/what-fundraisers-need-survive-economic-crisis/)**(
   17 October 2008)