Giving Increases Despite Financial Setbacks

There’s something about Christmas that warms the heart and touches the soul. Whether it be the traditions that we continue to honor year after year or the spirit of giving that swirls around us like a crisp winter breeze, there’s just something that unites us and transforms the mundane into the spectacular.

From the twinkling lights draped on the Christmas tree, to the eyes of a child that sparkle with anticipation on Christmas morning, the season is aglow with generosity and brotherhood. With the warmth of the season, many charities and non-profits are feeling the prosperity of the holidays and the sacrificial giving of thoughtful donors.

At this time of year, it’s interesting to note that the less fortunate are on giving lists right next to beloved family members. It’s well known and accepted that Christmas is the season when charities reap the largest amounts of donations and this is the month when these organizations play catch up for the shortcomings of the 11 not as prosperous months. The American Red Cross confirms these notions with the following facts:

• 80 percent of respondents felt their finances are either the same or worse than they were last year.
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• Sixty-eight percent of Americans believe that because of the economy, it’s important to give something to charity a 10 percentage point increase over the 58 percent who felt that way last year.
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• More than half (55 percent) say they feel bad about spending money on gifts people might not use.
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• 79 percent agreed that they would rather have charitable donation in their honor than get a gift they wouldn’t use.

I think what we can glean from these statistics is that although people seem to be stagnating on their overall income, they are feeling more compassion for their less fortunate counterparts and are willing to make sacrifices to help the less fortunate.

I can’t help but ponder what has made donors more aware of the plight of those in need: is it celebrities highlighting causes that fuel their passions, television commercials that bring the harsh realities of life into the living rooms of the common man, or social media which keeps donors abreast of the victories and fundraising challenges their organization is facing?

Regardless of the cause, it seems like many in our nation are becoming more compassionate, and that is always a good thing for the non-profit industry (regardless of the time of year.)