NAB has released a laudable new index assessing the state of charitable giving. Heres the results from the first edition:
Despite a softening domestic economy, flat employment growth and persistent consumer cautiousness, charitable giving is growing.
During the first seven months of 2012, the NAB Charitable Giving Index increased by 4.7% y/y, exceeding inflation and up slightly from 4.6% y/y in the same period of 2011.
Giving to Other charities (16.1%) experienced the fastest growth in January-July 2012, followed by Medical Research & Services (13.9%), Cancer (8.3%) and Health & Disability (8%). Humanitarian Services (-2%) charities were the only category to record lower donations.
Humanitarian Services accounted for the lion’s share of giving in the year to July with 32% of total donations. Animals & Environment and Cancer had the smallest share at 7% and 8% respectively.
Average annual donation size per donor increased 0.7% to $292 in the year to July 2012. Humanitarian services have the largest average donation size ($354), much higher than Medical Research & Services ($207) the second biggest recipient. Average giving was lowest for Cancer ($115) and Health & Disability ($119).
By postcode, average charity spend per person in dollar terms was highest in Middle Park (3206) Victoria ($334). This was also 21% higher than Vale Park (5081) SA ($276), the second highest. NSW features most prominently in the top 10 suburbs for average giving nationally, with 6 of the top 10 postcodes located there.
As a proportion of mean taxable income, however, residents from Lakes Entrance (3909) Victoria were the highest donors, giving 0.34% of their income to charity. On average, the top 10 postcodes from ACT (0.21%) donated most income to charity, while Queensland (0.16%), NSW (0.14%) and WA (0.13%) donated the least.
