More Americans Stiff Charities, But Donations Climb Growing Mistrust Over How Charities Spend Money Contributes To Drop In Number Of Donors

Americans gave more to charity last year than they did two years earlier, but an increasing number of people gave nothing, according to a Gallup survey.

Contributions in 1995 were 16 percent higher than in 1993 - 10 percent higher when adjusted for inflation, the survey says.

In constant dollars, the average contributing household gave $1,017 in 1995, compared with $928 in 1993.

That represented 2.2 percent of household income, a slight increase over the figure two years earlier, 2.1 percent.

But only 69 percent of households reported giving anything last year, compared with 73 percent in 1993.

The survey has been conducted every other year since 1987 by the Gallup organization for Independent Sector, a coalition representing 800 voluntary groups, foundations and corporate giving programs.

Gallup questioned 2,617 adults in face-to-face interviews this spring. The survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In another finding, participants expressed growing mistrust over how charities use their money. The proportion who disagreed with the statement “most charitable organizations are honest and ethical in their use of funds” has increased from 20 percent in 1990 to 31 percent this year.

In the five surveys taken since 1987, the year Americans were most generous was 1989, in a time of economic upturn. Seventy-five percent of households reporting giving that year, and they gave $1,201 in inflation-adjusted dollars, which represented 2.5 percent of household income.

The survey found similar patterns for volunteering. It said 49 percent of households reported volunteer activities in 1995, up 1 percent over 1993. The average volunteer contributed 4.2 hours a week, a figure that has not changed since 1991.

Households which reported charitable contributions last year had an average income of $46,637, about 50 percent higher than non-contributing households.

Another finding suggested that the most effective way to get people to give to charity is simply to ask them.

When people are asked, 85 percent respond; when not asked, only 44 percent give.

“It is imperative that charities reach out to under-asked populations,” said Sara E. Melendez, president of Independent Sector. “The under-asked - particularly minorities and young people - have an extraordinary response rate. When minorities are asked to give, 78 percent do; when not asked, only 28 percent give.”

While a lower percentage of low-income households gave to charity last year, those that did gave proportionately more than the more affluent.

The survey said that contributing households with incomes under $10,000 gave an average of 4.3 percent to charity, while contributing households with $40,000 to $50,000 gave 1.3 percent. Those with incomes over $100,000 gave 3.4 percent.