Holiday giving is expected to drop substantially amid widespread financial hardships, a general decline in hope and surging demand for charitable services
TORONTO, Dec. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inflation, surging demand and falling donations have combined to create a perfect storm for Canada’s 170,000-plus charities and nonprofits, a new Imagine Canada research poll shows.
Imagine Canada’s 2022 Holiday Giving Survey finds that significantly fewer Canadians intend to give to charity this holiday season and many plan to give less.
Fewer than half of Canadian adults (48 per cent) say they intend to donate compared to 56 per cent in 2021. Among those planning to donate over the holidays, 38 per cent indicate they will give less.
The likelihood of a substantial drop in holiday season donations is a major threat to millions of Canadians who rely on charitable services. Many charities and nonprofits receive as much as 40 per cent of their donations from individuals in the last six-to-eight weeks of the year.
Annual giving also down
The poll shows donation amounts made so far this year (January-October) have also fallen sharply. The average pre-holiday charitable donation this year is $182, down about 20 per cent from the average contribution of $221 during the same period in 2021.
At the same time, the poll reveals just how deeply inflation has hurt personal finances. One-in-ten Canadians report having to use the services of a charity or nonprofit to help with rising costs.
More than nine-in-ten (92 per cent) recognize today’s harsh economic climate is making Canadians more reliant on charitable services.
Volunteerism also in decline
Volunteerism this holiday …
