# Public poll shows strong support for charities during pandemic

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/25/public-poll-shows-strong-support-charities-during-pandemic/
- Published: 2020-03-25T10:46:23+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Public support for charities remains high during the Covid-19 pandemic with just
25% expecting to decrease the amount they give to charity over the coming months,
and 18% expecting to increase it, according to research by nfpSynergy.**

 

 

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The [recent survey by nfpSynergy](https://nfpsynergy.net/blog/covid-19-coronavirus-charity-sector-survey?utm_source=Newsletter+Mailing+list&utm_campaign=757043db2c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_24_10_47&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8fefd36561-757043db2c-74708585&mc_cid=757043db2c&mc_eid=db5199ab6b),
conducted between 22-24 March, also found that 57% of the public believe that charities
should continue to engage in fundraising with the public, and want to see them taking
an active role in providing support during the crisis.

 

 

 

64% want to see charities providing day to day support for at risk people, followed
by funding or carrying out medical research (41%) and providing volunteers at hospitals(
40%). Further down the list are providing advice and information (27%) or campaigning
on behalf of vulnerable beneficiaries (13%).

 

 

 

So far, only 8% of respondents have donated to a charity responding to the outbreak,
but 66% said they are willing to consider doing so. Around half (51%) would consider
volunteering while 47% would consider fundraising for such a charity. 17% also said
they had already started helping out in their community without charity involvement,
and a further 60% would consider doing so.

 

 

 

The survey also asked people if they would still consider supporting other causes
during the outbreak. Cancer was top of the list, chosen as a favourite cause by 
30% (compared to 43% in the most recent Charity Awareness Monitor survey), with 
other health and medical causes coming in second at 26%, compared to 22% in the 
most recent Monitor survey. Older people as a cause however has risen significantly
to take third place at 25%. In Q4 2019, 16% of respondents listed it as one of their
favourite causes.

 

 

 

An interactive dashboard is available for free to explore the full dataset [here](https://app.displayr.com/Dashboard?id=b75f3c9e-4eed-4c4c-9cf0-01bf0b8b0f2f).

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