8 out of 10 Swiss households donated to aid organisations in 2019

Eight out of ten households in Switzerland donated to aid organisations in 2019, according to the latest Swiss donation report from Swissfundraising and the Zewo Foundation.

The figures show that Swiss households donated a median amount of CHF 300 each in 2019 (€277), on average giving to four different organisations – spending and behaviour that has remained constant since 2015.

Swissfundraising’s Roger Tinner commented:

“The donation report shows that even in times of crisis, the Swiss are reliable and regular donors, and that they trust nonprofit organisations and the work they do.”

The two most popular causes among the Swiss are people with disabilities, and children and young people, with 54% and 51% of donors respectively saying they gave to these causes. 2019, the year of climate crisis action, also saw nature and environmental causes became more important with half of donors stating they had supported them, up 6.5% from 2018. Social and emergency aid (44%), and health-related causes (42%) were not far behind.

The study reveals that people under 45 donate the least, while at the age when people tend to have the most disposable income (55-69 years), people donate less frequently, but give significantly more. People donate the most as they head closer towards retirement, although once over the age of 70, donations decrease, down to an average CHF 200 per year (€185).

For the first time in 2019 however, more 35-54 year olds donated than 55-99 year olds, at 90% versus 88%.

90% of those who donated said they did so because they believed in the cause and the charity’s commitment, 87% also did so out of solidarity, and 83% out of gratitude for their own well-being.

Just 15% did not donate at all in 2019, and, as with the previous Swiss donation report, the most commonly given reason was a lack of money (cited by 34%). Few mentioned doing any voluntary work or crowdfunding, or giving direct support in 2019 (all below 8%). Regionally, more people donate at least once in German-speaking Switzerland (87% of citizens in this area) than elsewhere in the country.

The full study can be downloaded from the Swissfundraising site.