Inflation puts Sweden’s regular giving income lower in real-terms than in 2021

Giva Sverige’s quarterly statistics for regular giving in Sweden show that total income for the full year 2023 is higher than it was in 2021 – yet significantly lower when adjusted for inflation.

Key figures for gifts Q3 2023 shares statistics on regular gifts, one-time and other gifts from the public to Giva Sverige’s member organizations. The one-off gift total for the third quarter is also lower than the corresponding quarter in 2021, although the number of gifts is greater.

Organizations with collected funds over SEK 100 million show the clearest loss in gifts and contributions from the public in terms of regular gifts. While the total from regular gifts has risen by 0.2% over the past year, if inflation is taken into account, this represents a real loss of 7.4%. However, one-time gifts for Q3 2023 compared to Q3 2022 are 2.1% higher in absolute terms, mainly due to a high number of gifts per organization and Q2 2022 being a relatively weak quarter to compare to.

Charlotte Rydh, secretary general of Giva Sverige comments:

“The gift statistics show that regular giving slows down further with fewer gifts, while disasters such as the earthquake in Morocco and the flood in Libya have nevertheless mobilized more people to give one-off gifts. However, the fact that the gift amounts are decreasing is a clear signal that the household’s financial situation is beginning to affect giving, and it is of course worrying considering that many organizations have also seen reductions in public funding.”

Organizations with annually collected funds of SEK 25-99 million have had a more positive 2023. Looking over the last year, the regular giving total has increased by 2.4% and the number of gifts is also rising. However, the total for one-off gifts is 17.6% lower than Q3 2021, which appears to be due to lower average gifts.

The lower giving to the large organizations is also reflected in the forecast for 2023, where 70% of large organizations now expect a decrease in public giving compared to the previous year, and 60% a decrease in corporate giving. For medium-sized organisations, significantly more forecast increased giving from the public.

The monthly Gift Index (FMI), which is based on responses from all Giva Sverige member organizations regardless of the size of income from gifts, contributions or collaborations, showed in the latest survey that smaller organizations with 0-25 million kroner in collected funds are more positive than the large organisations for the first time since the survey started. Both the Gift Index and Key figures for gifts thus give relatively clear signs that the large organizations are finding it more difficult to maintain and increase giving right now based on the state of the economy and the poorer household finances.