In ten years, the proportion of donors in Quebec has declined significantly. However, in return, the amount of donations granted has increased over the decade. The recent rise in the cost of living, which has taken a hit to household wallets, could, however, dampen their propensity to give to philanthropic organizations, a new study shows.
In Quebec, as well as in Canada as a whole, nearly 70% of the population believes that the current economic situation — marked by the recent surge in inflation as well as the rise in interest rates — has an influence on their ability to donate.
This is one of the findings that emerges from a study on trends in philanthropy in Quebec, published by Épisode, a consulting firm specializing in this area, in partnership with the research and survey firm Léger.
We read that in 2013, approximately 6 in 10 Quebecers (61%) were ready to make a donation for a cause. Ten years later, there were only 5 out of 10 (51%).
This downward trajectory, which was constant until 2020, experienced a temporary rise in 2021, right during the pandemic, but it began to decline again in 2023, the study reveals.
However, Quebec stands out from the rest of the country in terms of the evolution of the average amount of donations granted per year. While the average amount of annual donations from Canadians recorded a significant drop of 14.5% — going from $448 to $383 between 2013 and 2023 — that of Quebecers increased by 17.1% — climbing from $222 to $260 over the same period.
What happens when we compare these amounts as a proportion of individuals’ income? The generosity index, measured by Épisode, has decreased slightly across Canada, while it has remained stable in Quebec over the last decade.
This index shows that ten years ago, for every $100 of their gross income, a Canadian donated on average about $0.70 in donations. Today he pays $0.60. In Quebec, the index did not change. It remained at $0.40 per $100 of gross income.
Quebecers devote less money to philanthropy each year than in the rest of Canada. “Only 10% of Quebecers make annual donations exceeding $500 to philanthropic organizations, while 15% of donors elsewhere in Canada make such contributions,” the report underlines on this subject.