Charity donations rise, but donor numbers fall

VICTORIANS are among the nation’s most generous people but fewer Australians are donating to charities because of growing uncertainty about whether their money will help those in need.

Two landmark reports on the generosity of Australians, to be released today, show 14.9 million people donated a $11.2 billion last year.

The average donation was $764, up from $424 in 2005, but only 81 per cent of adults gave money away compared with 87 per cent a decade ago.

Victoria ranked as the second most generous state behind NSW, with the average Victorian parting with $773 last year for good causes.

More than half of those who did not give to charities said it was because they could not afford to, but the next three most common reasons for not donating revealed concerning trust issues.

People expressed doubts about how their money would be used, whether too much was spent on charity administration and if enough of it would reach those in need.

The Giving Australia reports — which cost the Federal Government $1.7 million — also reveal an estimated 8.7 million Australians gave up 923 million hours of their time last year to volunteer.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said: “These are incredible figures and show just how the generosity of spirit of Australians is well and truly alive.”

The figures reveal women are more likely to donate than men, but that men give more on average.