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A profile of Canadian donors

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Whether coming to the aid of victims of a house fire or donating money for cancer research, Canadians have a long tradition of charitable giving. More than 19 million Canadians made direct financial contributions totalling nearly $5 billion to charitable organizations in 2000, an 11% increase over 1997.

Though the proportion making direct financial donations remained constant at 78% from 1997 to 2000, the average annual amount donated increased from $239 to $259 during this period. Compassion for people in need and supporting a cause they believe in are the main motivations Canadians cite for making a donation. Religious organizations were the recipients of nearly half the total amount donated in 2000.

Charitable giving tends to vary across the population with factors such as age, sex and education. The average amount given by donors increases with age, peaking with those aged 45 to 54, who reported annual donations of $338 in 2000. Women are more likely to donate than men, but there is no difference between men and women in the average annual amount donated. Canadians with a university degree are more likely to contribute to charity, and donated an average of $480 in 2000. Married people are also more likely to make a contribution. In 2000, 85% of married people donated to charity compared with 66% of single Canadians.

Residents of the Atlantic and Prairie provinces were most likely to donate in 2000, with the donation rate ranging from 79% to 87% in the Atlantic provinces and from 83% to 85% in the Prairies. Average annual donations were largest in Manitoba and Alberta, at $383 and $369, respectively.