The annual Harris/Decima CAN/AM survey for World Vision found that with few exceptions, charitable giving is decreasing.
As a result of the economic climate, just 38% of Canadian adults polled are likely to give charitable gifts as holiday presents, which is 13% less than their American neighbours.
Jane Bargout, donor relations manager with World Vision, said “This downward trending poll is disheartening news for the world's most needy.”
The economy is not the only culprit, since Canadian adults also report feeling significantly more pressure to make charitable donations than U.S. adults (66% Canada versus 48% U.S.) and more than one in three strongly agree (35% Canada versus 23% U.S.)
“Certainly, with an increase in natural disasters in 2011, Canadians must be feeling some fatigue,” said Bargout.
While Canadians still maintain they would prefer to receive a gift that would help someone else, the number who have received a charitable gift has declined by 5%.
Of equal concern to charities is the fact that Canadian adults report a 3% decline in having given a charitable gift to someone else.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV