Austrian giving exceeds expectations by climbing to €1bn mark for first time

A total of €1.1bn was given to good causes in Austria in 2022, significantly outperforming Fundraising Verband Austria’s expectation for the year, says the organisation’s annual Spendenbericht (Donation Report).

Total giving for 2021 was €870m. When that figure was published at the end of 2022, FVA predicted that inflation would hit fundraising in 2022, meaning that it projected a figure of €900m for 2022.

The record total for 2022 was driven by the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with up to €200m in aid given during the year.

The two organisations receiving the most donations were Caritas Österreich (€118.6m) and Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz (the Austrian Red Cross, €109m). The only other nonprofit receiving more than €50m was Nachbar in Not (Neighbour in Need).

The vast majority (84%) of the €1.1bn was given by individuals, of which most donations (85%) were less than €200. The Spendenbericht also says that large donations are less common than in other countries, with just 2% being larger than €1,000.

The report shows that 71% of the population donated during the year, up from 67% last year.

A further 11% of the sector’s income came from gifts in wills, making it the second consecutive year in which legacies totalled more than €100m. Companies and nonprofit foundations accounted for 8%.

FVA says that its neighbours Switzerland and Czech Republic were the only other countries in the world to see significant growth in donations during the year, at +22% and +19% respectively. However, the organisation expects Austrian giving to decrease by around 9% to a total of roughly €1bn in 2023, due in part to inflation.

It also noted that the increase in donations did not mean the sector’s health was universally rosy.

Günther Lutschinger, chief executive of the FVA, says:

“Not all nonprofit organisations in the country were able to enjoy more donations and expand their work. Many smaller ones have clearly felt the effects of inflation and have already had to cope with declines.”

The 2023 Spendenbericht was launched on Giving Tuesday (28 November). Lutschinger said that the pre-Christmas period is a crucial for fundraising in the country, as it accounts for around 30% of donations.

Picture by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.