Donations rise in France but new donor numbers on the decline

Donations rose by 4.5% in France last year, according to the France générosités 2021 Generosity Barometer. However, new donor numbers in the country are falling.

The Barometer, produced by Novos and supported by La Banque Postale, is based on data from 56 member associations and foundations of France générosités.

It shows that direct debit and online donations in particular are on the increase. In 2021, 40% of those received by associations and foundations were made by direct debit, up more than 8% year on year. Online donations have increased by 48% in two years, with the share of online donations representing 24.5% of one-time donations in 2021.

2021 also saw average donation size rise across all methods of payment:

– Online donations: €133 (+3.7% compared to 2020)

– Donation by cheque and others: €81 (+6.4% compared to 2020)

– Direct debit: €149 (+2% compared to 2020)

At the same time, associations and foundations are struggling to find new donors, which fell by 9% between 2011 and 2021.

France générosités is proposing eight measures to develop generosity in the short and medium term. These include developing CP and RTT donations (which allow private sector employees to donate unused days off to their work colleagues) for the benefit of nonprofit organisations. Only 69% of French people use all of their leave, meaning some 26.6 million days with an estimated value of €2.6 billion go to waste. This proposal was sent to all candidates for the recent presidential election.

Pierre Siquier, President of France générosités commented:

“With these proposals we are responding to a strong desire expressed by employees to support associations and foundations, and developing innovative ways to mobilise new donors.”

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