The estimated total amount given to charities by individuals in 2003 was 7.1 billion (down from the 2002 estimate of 7.3 billion). The proportion of people giving to charity had dropped slightly, from 67.3 per cent to 65.8 per cent. The average monthly donation in 2003 was 12.32, down from 13.89 (in real terms) since 2002.
Source: Inside Research: Charitable Giving in 2003, Charities Aid Foundation (01732 520000) and National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Links: Summary | CAF press release
Date: 2004-Nov
A survey found that 57 per cent of people said they would give more if a favourite charity were in urgent need of extra funding. But when asked what they would do with an extra 20 a week to spend, almost two-thirds said they would not make charitable giving a priority. Just 28 per cent of those on high incomes, and 44 per cent of those on low incomes, said they would be prepared to give the money to charity.
Source: Cathy Pharoah, Fitting Charity into Household Budgets, Charities Aid Foundation (01732 520000)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Oct
The top 500 fundraising charities generated a total income of 8.6 billion in 2004 - a rise of 42 per cent. Of this, 4.6 billion (53 per cent) was from voluntary sources.
Source: Charity Trends 2004, CaritasData Ltd (020 7566 8210)
Links: CAF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
Following consultation, the government announced plans for a simplified licensing system for public charitable collections, to be administered by local authorities. A group bringing together charities, police, local authorities, charity umbrella groups and the Charity Commission would take forward work on the practical details of the scheme. In the first instance, self-regulation of the conduct of public collections would be operated by the voluntary sector, but with the option for the government to regulate left open.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 27 May 2004, columns 83-87WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2004-May
A report said that charities could miss out on up to 1 billion a year because they were failing to promote the government's tax-efficient 'Share Giving' scheme to donors.
Source: Joe Saxton and Alexandra Denye, Share Giving Sheer Indifference, nfpSynergy (020 7250 3343)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Apr
A report recommended that charities became more focused on their approach to affluent and wealthy potential donors. This included better targeting as well as taking steps to build better relationships with these groups.
Source: A Wealth of Opportunity: How the affluent decide the level of their donations to charity, Giving Campaign (020 7930 3154)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
The government announced (in the Budget) the end of the 10 per cent tax relief supplement on all company payroll giving donations. But cash incentives would be extended to small and medium-sized companies to take up the scheme.
Source: Prudence for a Purpose: A Britain of stability and strength - Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report and Financial Statement and Budget Report, HC 301, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 17 March 2004, columns 321-336, TSO
Links: Report (pdf links) | HMT press releases | Budget speech
Date: 2004-Mar
An article said that both the probability of someone making charitable contributions and the size of the gift were strongly related to their age, with the oldest giving most generously.
Source: John List, 'Young, selfish and male: field evidence of social preferences', Economic Journal, January 2004, Royal Economic Society (0117 983 9770)
Links: RES press release
Date: 2004-Jan