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    Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Tables Report, 2010

    Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Tables Report

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    Introduction

    The 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) was undertaken to better understand how Canadians support one another. While some may decide to engage in such activities on their own, others choose to contribute through a charitable and non-profit organization. To achieve this goal, over 15,000 Canadians aged 15 and over were asked how they: gave money and other resources to individuals and to organizations; and volunteered time to help others and to enhance their communities.

    A first look at the findings from the CSGVP shows that Canadians from all walks of life are willing and able to reach out and help others. Men and women, young and old, from every province and territory donate their time and money to a variety of causes.

    This report provides an overview of provincial and territorial indicators that measure giving and volunteering activities in 2010. It also describes key indicators in national findings since the 2007 CSGVP.

    This is the first of four releases from the 2010 Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. Starting in the spring of 2012, Canadian Social Trends will be presenting a series of in-depth analytical articles that will explore the topics of charitable giving, volunteering, employer support to charitable behaviours and new Canadians.

    Summary of Main Findings

    The vast majority of Canadians1 provided either time or money to charitable and non-profit organizations in 2010. The total amount of money they donated and the total number of hours they volunteered has remained stable since 2007.

    Nearly 24 million people or 84% of the population aged 15 and over, made a financial donation to a charitable or non-profit organization, for a total amount of $10.6 billion. Both the percentage of the population donating and the amount of the donations were relatively unchanged from 2007.

    At the same time, more than 13.3 million people, or 47% of the population, volunteered their time through a group or organization.

    Canadians volunteered nearly 2.1 billion hours in 2010, the equivalent of close to 1.1 million full-time jobs2. The total number of hours remains relatively unchanged from 2007. The hours volunteered for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics represent approximately 0.7% of this total.

    Average donation,volunteer hours remain stable

    The average annual donation in 2010 amounted to $446 per donor. This is comparable to the average annual donation in 2007. Those who gave the most were more likely to be older, to have higher household income and formal education, or to attend weekly religious services or meetings.

    Canadians who volunteered did so for an average of 156 hours in 2010; this is relatively unchanged from three years earlier.

    As in 2007, survey findings show that on average, a smaller proportion of the population volunteer many hours while a greater proportion of the population volunteer fewer hours.

    Those who volunteered the most hours tended to be older, widowed and no longer in the workforce. They were also likely to not have any children at home and to attend weekly religious services or meetings. However, the highest rates of volunteering were found among Canadians who were younger, were single or in a relationship, or had young children at home.

    More donors in the east, higher donations in the west

    Provincially, the donor rate to charitable and non-profit organizations was highest in the Atlantic provinces, while donors in the western provinces donated higher average amounts in general. This pattern is for the most part unchanged from 2007.

    The donor rates for Newfoundland and Labrador (92%) and in Prince Edward Island (91%) were among the highest in country and significantly above the national average of 84%.

    In contrast, the donor rates for Northwest Territories and Nunavut were the lowest. Approximately 60% of the surveyed population in Northwest Territories and 59% in Nunavut made donations in 2010.

    Average donations from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia were among the highest in Canada. Donors from these provinces gave on average $562, $544 and $543 respectively to a charitable or non-profit organization in 2010.

    Conversely, average donations were lowest in Quebec ($208). Nunavut ($344) and Newfoundland and Labrador ($331) were also among those with the lowest average annual donation in 2010.

    Volunteers in all provinces and territories

    In terms of volunteering, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island were among the provinces with the highest rates: over 55% of those aged 15 and over volunteered through a group or organization. This is significantly higher than the national average of 47%.

    Northwest Territories and Quebec were among the provinces and territories with the lowest volunteer rates across Canada. The survey findings show that less than 40% of their populations aged 15 and over volunteered time in 2010.

    Volunteers from Nova Scotia (207) were among those with the highest average hours volunteered in 2010. On the other hand, Yukon and Quebec were among those with the lowest average hours volunteered in 2010. Volunteers from these provinces gave approximately 130 hours on average in 2010.

    Conclusion

    This report provides a summary of key national, provincial and territorial indicators from the 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. All of the behaviours measured in the survey—giving, volunteering and helping—rely on a complex set of factors to initiate and uphold them. The report is the first step to understanding the characteristics of the Canadians who undertake these activities.

    Findings from the 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating show that Canadians across the country and in all walks of life express their kindness in a variety of ways. Over 8 in 10 (84%) donate money to charities and non-profit organizations, unchanged from 2007. Just under 5 in 10 (47%) have volunteered their time to an organization.

    Although the majority of Canadians engage in these behaviours, the extent of their involvement varies greatly. The size of the donations ranged from $5 to thousands of dollars, with an average donation of $446 in 2010. The number of hours volunteered varied from one hour to a few thousand hours, with volunteers contributing an average of 156 hours during the year.

    Starting in the spring of 2012, Canadian Social Trends will be presenting a series of analytical articles that will explore in more depth the topics of charitable giving, volunteering, employer support to charitable behaviours and new Canadians.


    Notes

    1. The term Canadians is used throughout this publication to refer to the population targeted by the survey. Residents of Canada who were not Canadian citizens may have been respondents to this survey.
    2. Assuming 40 hours per week for 48 weeks.
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