Dutch charities’ income and spending beat inflation in 2022

Charities in the Netherlands increased their spending by 12.5% in 2022, meaning the sector more than kept up with inflation, which averaged 10% that year.

This is according to the Feiten & Cijfers 2022 report from Goede Doelen Nederland, which is based on data from 190 of the organisation’s 241 members.

The report shows total spending of €2.83bn, an increase of €315m, while total income rose 11% to €3.23bn.

Growth was particularly strong among larger charities, defined in the survey as those with more than €20m income, with income up 12% and spending up by 15% compared to 2021.

Income at mid-sized charities (€5m-€20m income) rose by 5%, and spending by 8%. Sub-€5m organisations grew their income by 4%, but cut expenditure by 6%.

The most significant income increases were experienced in educational charities (31%), although it should be noted that there were only two such charities (one mid-sized and one small) in the study.

Other sectors experiencing significant income growth were arts & culture (19%), international aid & human rights (16%), and health (9%).

Aid & human rights charities increased their spending by nearly a fifth (19%) in 2022, while health charity spending rose by 17%.

Arts & culture was the only area with decreased spending (-7%), while the only area with decreased income was animal charities (-4%).

Income streams remained similar to 2021, with private individuals contributing 52% of income to medium and small charities, and 29% of income of large charities. Grants were the biggest source of income for large charities, accounting for 41% of revenues. Across the sector, donor and member numbers were broadly stable, while volunteer numbers rose by 2% – although that figure is based on data from just 92 of the charities in the report.

The report is created by Goede Doelen Nederland in order to provide transparency and clarity around the sector.

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