Reports says B.C.’s high cost of living cuts into giving

The generosity of British Columbians has faltered over the last five years, but not because they are becoming stingier.

It’s because more of them simply have less to give, according to a new survey commissioned by Vancity Credit Union.

The number who have given to charities has shrunk to 59 per cent from 74 per cent just five years ago, the survey of 800 B.C. residents found. And of those who do give, one third reported giving less to charity than they did a half decade ago.

Over the past three years, the survey found that the annual average donation of respondents faded nine per cent to $888 in 2016.

It is a trend that puts the squeeze on charities, which, on average depend on donations for about 13 per cent of their revenue, according to the Vancity report, making it harder to keep up with rising demands for service.

And the reasons for giving less, the survey found, come back to financial stress with hints that the erosion in their ability to give will continue.

“(This) demonstrates especially in B.C., because our numbers are B.C. numbers, that people are really feeling the crunch,” said Vancity senior vice-president Linda Morris, “that between housing and food and transportation and other things, they are hard pressed to support causes they really believe in.”

Morris said she takes heart from the survey’s results because they show no reduction in volunteerism among respondents. About 40 per cent of them volunteer time, 50 hours per year on average, and two thirds reported intentions to volunteer the same amount or more next year.

“They are still equally committed (to helping),” said Morris. “That sometimes they might not have the dollars, but they have the desire to help, so are finding other ways (to give).”

The survey found that almost half of respondents (46 per cent) have had the ability to make financial contributions to charity eroded and 30 per cent of respondents said they plan to give less to charity next year.