Swedish charities report Q2 fundraising dip, but long-term trend is positive

Individual giving in Sweden dropped significantly in Q2 2022, but the long-term trend for charities’ income is still positive, according to a survey of 42 leading Swedish nonprofits.

The quarterly report by Swedish fundraising association Giva Sverige, shows that the average number of individual donations reached more than 33,000 per organisation in March 2022, with an average value of 454SEK (€42).

This dropped in Q2, with on average between 10,000-14,000 donations received each month for April, May and June, and average values more than 100SEK (€9) lower in all cases. However, the decline was less significant in regular giving.

But Giva Sverige says that the long-term trend is more positive, with the report showing that levels of individual giving, as well as other fundraising categories, are higher than they were during Q2 2021.

The report notes that the Swedish public and corporate sector have donated more than two billion SEK (€270 million) through Giva Sverige member organisations to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine since it was invaded by Russia. It also shows that the sector is optimistic about fundraising through the rest of 2022.

Half (50%) of respondents say they expect public donations to be stronger in for 2022 as a whole, versus 2021, with 31% predicting no change and only a small number (17%) expecting a reduction. There is similar optimism around corporate giving, with 43% predicting an increase and just 10% predicting a decrease.

However, this optimism is much stronger among charities with an income in excess of 100 million SEK (€9.3 million), versus those with an income of 25-99 million SEK (€2.3 million -€9.3 million).

Charlotte Rydh, EFA president and Giva Sverige secretary general, comments:

“The decline in individual giving during Q2 is not a huge surprise, given the timing of certain major events including Ukraine’s invasion, which prompted a particularly strong level of giving in February and March. Although we’re pleased that so many respondents showed optimism about fundraising for the rest of this year, nonprofits in Sweden and as well as globally must remain vigilant in this uncertain and economically volatile time.”