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Insights into Italian giving trends have been revealed in a new report by the Italian Donations Institute (IID), which covers changes between 2018 and 2019, together with initial data from the current year.
“We donate – Edition 2020” is now in its third year and brings together data from a range of third sector organisations to provide an overview of Italian giving trends. Participating organisations include Assif, BVA Doxa, Italian Caritas, National Blood Center, National Transplant Center, EU Consult Italy, Osservatorio di Pavia, and Walden Lab.
IID presented the findings in early October, for #DonoDay2020 – Italy’s annual day dedicated to the promotion of giving.
Italy’s donors & volunteers
The report shows that a similar proportion of nonprofits saw fundraised income rise as decrease (42% vs. 38%) between 2018 and 2019, while it remained stable for one fifth.The proportion of Italians who give to charity fell slightly to 45% in 2019 from 49% in 2018 according to BVA Doxa, while data from WaldenLab indicates that the average donation size has rose from EUR 70 in 2018 to EUR 77. The most popular causes tend to be medical or scientific research, the fight against poverty, and support for the sick and disabled.
Figures also show a slight decrease in the giving of time, with the percentage of Italians volunteering with charities falling from 10.5% in 2018 to 9.8% in 2019. The number of Italians specifically engaging with ecological associations is increasing however, while the regions with the most volunteers are Trentino Alto Adige (21% of its population), Valle D’Aosta (17%), and Veneto (14%).
Biological donations are holding steady in Italy however. According to data from the National Blood Center, 1,683,470 Italians donated blood at least once in 2019, up 0.04% compared to 2018. Data from the National Transplant Center also shows that 3,813 organ transplants took place in 2019, thanks to 364 living donors and 1,379 who were deceased. Altogether just under 7m Italians have registered as willing to donate their organs to the Transplant Information System (SIT).
2020 & beyond
Looking at 2020 and beyond, so far this year, IID monitoring shows that 62% of not for profit organisations have seen revenue drop with a fifth losing more than 50%. However, in August, 22% said they had raised more funds than usual as a result of the pandemic.
According to WaldenLab figures, the number of Italians who donated in the first 6 months of 2020 rose to 28% compared to 21% in the previous months. This increase in donations however was directed towards Covid-19 associated efforts to protect citizens and provide healthcare.
The survey reveals that more than half of nonprofit organisations (52%) expect a decline in revenue for 2020, although a third expect an increase.
Looking ahead, almost all charities (97%) expect to return to their normal activities with almost a quarter already there or almost there. 41% however are currently unable to say when this return might take place, and just over half plan to keep at least some of the changes implemented during the pandemic, such as remote working, in place in the future.
President of IID Stefano Tabò commented:
“The focus of the report is on Italians: their economic willingness to help others, their direct commitment to volunteering, their willingness to donate blood and organs to help those who are ill. By putting together authoritative data we are able to give a representative overview of the situation and to better understand the society in which the third sector operates.”
