12.02.2019

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has published the results of a new study on “Private donations in Russia”.

According to sociologists, the number of Russians involved in charity work has gone down by 6% (i.e. from 67% in 2017 to 61% last year).

However, despite this drop, the average donation among people under 45 years of age during the year was much higher compared to those over that age. On average, young people and those over 45 gave 12,252 and 3,616 roubles respectively to charity.

Young people are also more active in terms of volunteering, with 29% of respondents between 18-24 years of age having offered their services over the past 12 months, compared to 10% of those aged 55 and over during the same period. Young people (57% aged 18-24) have a positive view of the value that NGOs and charities bring, particularly at local community level. This compares to 41% of respondents aged 55 or over.

Cash is the most popular method for giving to good causes (44% of donors), followed by bank transfer/credit card (36%) and by SMS (35%). Helping children (orphans, the critically ill and the disabled) is traditionally the most favoured group for private donations (57%). Feelings of compassion for people affected by a particular social problem (45%) were one of the main reasons for making donations, while 38% of Russians spoke of wanting to help people less fortunate than themselves.

The survey also revealed that around half of Russia’s adult population recognise the positive contribution made by NGOs and charities at local community and international level. 55% believe that non-profit organisations are a force for good in national life as a whole.

“There is much to be pleased about in the report despite the slight drop in key success indicators”, said Maria Chertok, Director of CAF. “Firstly, the fact that more and more young people are becoming actively involved in charity and other types of social work and their belief that they can change life for the better. Secondly, the faith that the majority of respondents have in NGOs and their ability to enhance the lives of people in their local community, as well as at national and global level. All this suggests that charity in Russia has a great future ahead of it”, she added.

The report has been compiled using data provided by YouGov, a research company commissioned by CAF which conducted 1,009 online interviews in Russia from 2-31 August last year in collaboration with “Toluna”, an international public survey organisation. A copy of the full research report is available via www.asi.ru.

Source: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2019/02/12/kaf-issledovanie/