The willingness to donate remains high in Germany, but it cannot match the previous two record years: it is apparently leveling off at the level before the Corona period. The declining number of donors is a cause for concern.
Germans donated less in the first nine months of this year than in the previous two record years. By September, a total of 3.2 billion euros had been received in donations, as the German Donations Council announced. That is around 600 million euros less than 2022, the year the Ukraine war began, and also less than 2021 with the Ahr Valley flood.
Nevertheless, despite inflation, donations this year are at about the same level as the good donation years 2017 to 2019. In total, the donation council expects around five billion euros in donations by the end of the year. Last year it was 5.7 billion.
Declining number of donors is a cause for concern
The Donation Council is concerned about the declining number of donors. Around 14 million people gave money to nonprofit organizations or churches between January and September. Their number fell by two million compared to the same period last year.
The percentage of donors in the population fell by 2.8 percentage points to a total of 21.3 percent. While one in three Germans donated in 2006 and 2007, this year it will probably only be one in five. “This is not surprising given the enormous solidarity of the past two years,” explained Martin Wulff, managing director of the German Donations Council.
Donation council considers volume to be “remarkable”
Given the high inflation, he considers this year’s donation volume to be “remarkable.” However, the significant decline in donors is “worrying”. The average donation amount of 37 euros was the third highest value after the record years of 2021 with 40 euros and 2022 with 41 euros.
The biggest drop in donations occurred in emergency and disaster relief, which recorded a loss of 472 million euros in the first year after the start of the war in Ukraine. This effect also occurred after other disasters and wars. Nevertheless, donation income in this area was still almost twice as high as before the pandemic.
People over 70 donate the most
Around 30 percent fewer donations flowed into the church/religion area in 2023 than in 2019. Compared to last year, donations for refugees fell from 949 million to 316 million euros by September and are therefore “normalizing”.
People over 70 continue to donate the most. The 50 to 59 year old age group lost 738,000 donors. In contrast, the number of donors among 30 to 39 year olds increased. 215,000 people donated more here than in 2022.
Younger people are donating more again
At the same time, this age group increased in the amount donated. This gives “hope that there will continue to be numerous donors in Germany in the future,” emphasized Wulff.
The Donation Council referred to partial results of the ongoing “GfK Charity Panel” study, which is being prepared on its behalf. According to the information, the study is based on continuous written surveys among a representative sample of 10,000 panel participants from the private sector. Corporate donations, inheritances, and donations to political parties and organizations are not included in these calculations.