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New research report shows levels of giving stable from 2007 to 2008

Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS),

2008 data from Nielsen Media Research’s Panorama survey shows that volunteering and donation levels were consistent between 2007 and 2008. The research was released by the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector at Volunteering NZ’s Volunteering Unleashed conference this week.

Based on the responses of 12,000 people, the 2008 data shows the number of people supporting the community sector in some way was stable from one year to the next. However, the range of sub-sectors and causes they supported was broader for 2008 respondents than those in 2007.

Key findings in the research:

  • Overall, 75.8% of people aged 10 years and over supported the community and voluntary sector in the previous 12 months for 2008, compared to 75.4% for 2007.
  • The percentage of people 10 years and over who made an ad hoc donation in the previous 12 months increased from 47.4% for 2007 to 49.6% for 2008. This increase is statistically significant.
  • The percentage of people 10 years and over who made committed donations in the previous 12 months was 33.4% in 2008. This is not statistically different from the 2007 result.
  • The percentage of people 10 years and over who volunteered in the previous 12 months was 34% for 2008. This is not statistically different from the 2007 result.

Survey participants reported on their giving “in the previous 12 months”, so the results do not reflect activity solely in 2008, but the 12-month period prior to when they completed the survey. Survey participants completed the survey between January and December 2008 inclusive.

The research data has been published on the OCVS website to support the Promoting Generosity project. It represents the first time that New Zealand has had time series data available to start to show trends in giving behaviour. The OCVS will continue to publish the giving data from the Panorama survey on a regular basis to help measure the effect of increased tax rebates on donations, and the impact of payroll giving, the Promoting Generosity project, and other activities to encourage volunteering.

Date published: Friday, 6 November 2009.

Contact person OCVS
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Website address http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/
Submitted by Ns
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