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At 1.1 billion euros, people donated more than ever before to good causes in the previous year—200 million euros more than expected, despite the highest inflation in 50 years.
This is according to the 2023 Donation Report by the Fundraising Association of Austria, which was published on Tuesday. The driving force behind this record generosity was the immense willingness to donate aid to Ukraine.
“The extent of the willingness to help the millions of people affected by the war in Ukraine has exceeded all expectations. 150 to 200 million euros were donated for Ukraine aid alone—the decisive factor for the largest increase in donations ever in this country,” said Günther Lutschinger, Managing Director of the Fundraising Association Austria.
The analysis showed that private individuals in Austria contributed EUR 920 million to charitable projects last year; according to Lutschinger, this is also the lion’s share of donations at 84 percent. Of this, 120 million euros came from inheritances. Eight percent each came from companies and charitable foundations.
Austrians donated more than ever before in 2022
Among the income brackets, the middle class continued to be the main artery of giving in Austria: 96% of all donations recently resulted from amounts under 600 euros, while donations over 1,000 euros accounted for just two percent in total.
According to the initial forecast for the current donation year, a decline is expected in 2023. The Fundraising Association of Austria expects new momentum from the non-profit package coming into force on January 1, 2024, which will make donations deductible for all non-profit purposes for the first time.
