Last year, Austrians again donated more than a billion euros. However, the result of 1.075 billion euros was below the 2022 result of 1.1 billion euros. This downward trend is likely to continue.
This is evident from the 2024 donation report, which the Fundraising Association Austria presented on Wednesday in Vienna. The association expects a further decline in results of 1.03 billion for 2024, which will cause problems for the organizations.
Although support for the victims of the war in Ukraine has declined, the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and domestic storm relief were important reasons for donations, the news conference said. Systematically, the amount spent on environmental and animal protection has increased significantly. As for the 2024 forecast, it was said that the commitment over the Christmas period will determine the outcome of the fundraising year more than ever.
Especially help private individuals
Ruth Williams, director of the Fundraising Association, called the 2023 result “an extremely pleasing result at a time of the highest inflation in 50 years”. About 80 percent of all donations in Austria come from private individuals: “Despite economic constraints, the population has once again shown how important charity work is in Austria,” Williams emphasizes.
“Although only minimal, the trend in donations is negative for the first time. In practice, fewer donations and at the same time significantly higher costs for the organizations unfortunately mean that less money is available for charitable services.”
Internationally, willingness is decreasing significantly
Many countries have seen a serious decline in donations over the past year. Examples of this, according to the association, are Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, which each saw double-digit declines. The decline in Austria can also be partly attributed to spending on Ukraine: While Neighbor in Need raised a record EUR 52.5 million for aid to Ukraine in 2022, corresponding donations in 2023 amounted to only EUR 5.6 million.
The social and healthcare sectors and international aid fell by one percent compared to the previous year. However, with a share of 29 and 25 percent respectively, the vast majority of donations still go to these two areas. Last year, 15 percent of all donations went to science, research and universities, and eleven percent to environmental and animal protection, meaning the area grew by three percent.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
