The pandemic will at least have left a fine legacy of generosity within the population, while a Léger survey shows that Quebecers are more and more generous and will be more likely to volunteer in 2023.
Also, the future looks good as young people say they want to contribute more money and time for the coming year.
“The good news is that we see that it is stabilizing. We had fears that it was the pandemic that had generated more generosity and we feared that it would fade,” explains Caroline Richard, director general of the Institut Mallet, an organization whose mission is to contribute to the advancement of the philanthropic culture for whom the survey was conducted.
The proportion of people who donate has indeed increased significantly during the pandemic, she says.
“At the start of the pandemic, we were between 50% and 60%, and today we see that we are at 80% of Quebecers who donate each year and donations have increased. We have reached an average donation of $249 per person. That’s $60 more per Quebecer than in 2019.”
Return from volunteering
The end of the pandemic will at the same time counter one of its major negative effects, while the survey very clearly shows “the intention of people to return to volunteering. Organizations have suffered greatly from the lack of volunteers due to health constraints. Perhaps one of the most significant things between the start of the pandemic and today is that people who have already volunteered clearly indicate that they want to return to doing so,” says Ms. Richard.
“For organizations that need volunteers, this is good news. We hope that will materialize. I would tell you that volunteers are eagerly awaited in the field in all organizations. »
We might also have feared that the economic context, with the high level of inflation that we are experiencing, would have a negative impact on donation intentions, but the survey tells us the opposite.
“It sends two new messages: some say they are going to turn to volunteering because they have less means and others recognize that the economic situation is difficult and say to themselves that they have the means and will therefore give any further. »
Helping the poor tops the list
It should therefore come as no surprise that it is aid to vulnerable and disadvantaged people that comes at the top of the priority causes, identified first by 51% of respondents, since it is these who are the most affected by the economic context.
Then come, in order, childhood and education, medical research, the elderly, violence against women and environmental protection.
In the latter case, Caroline Richard believes that this is one of the explanations for the increase in donations of goods such as food, but also clothing, furniture or computer equipment, that citizens are increasingly hesitant to throw away.
“I think there is an environmental awareness that has come on top of that. It adds to the importance of giving back to the community in any way you can. »
Young people: a new breath
Among respondents planning to donate this year, the 18-24 and 25-34 age brackets have the strongest intentions — by far — to give more in 2023 than in 2022. For Caroline Richard, this is both a great source of pride and confidence in the future.
“The population as a whole is generous, but what we’re noticing this time around is the interest in giving more among young people, which is significant and promising for the future.
“Young people are more aware and say to themselves: when I have the means, I will do it. When we talk about fostering the culture of giving, so much the better if the new generation wants to contribute,” she rejoices.
The fact remains that beyond pure altruism, “the primary motivation for giving in general is a personal story, it’s a link you have with the cause. If we donate to a hospital, it is because someone in our family or sometimes ourselves, has benefited from the services”, she gives as an example.
According to her, the importance of philanthropy cannot be underestimated, since the State could not do the job without the organizations and volunteers working in the field.
“That’s where it exposes the complementarity in all of this. This is what makes it possible to weave the social fabric from which we benefit in Quebec, and the role of organizations is essential. »
The survey, of which this was the fourth edition, was conducted online among 1,000 Quebecers aged 18 and over, from February 14 to 20. Although it is not a probability survey, the authors of the study point out, as an indication, that “for a probability sample of the same size, the maximum margin of error is +/- 3, 1% (19 times out of 20). »