Women More Charitable Than Men at Christmas

Above: The Mayor of Mosman Cr Anne Connon, assisted Council staff load Mosman Council’s Santa Sleigh with gifts bound for Bear Cottage in Manly.   Flickr Image:  Some rights reserved  Mosman Council

More than 60% of women will make a donation to charity this year, compared with only 56% of men according to the latest Christmas survey from the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA).

The survey of 1000 Australians over 18 years old showed women were more likely to donate, and those of us who do make a contribution to charity prefer to hand over our cash than our time ANRA CEO, Margy Osmond said.

“Gone are the days of giving up a Saturday or Sunday to raise money for the Salvos or Smith Family by manning a table at the local store, 22% of us will open our wallets to spread the Christmas cheer, but only 5% will do volunteer work.

“Retailers efforts to raise money and gifts at this time of year are also widely supported – 13% of people put gifts or money under a store’s charity tree. But overall 41% of us would not be making any donations at all,” she said.

Osmond said there was also an age disparity when it came to donations – it seems to be a trend young people are less willing to take up.

“Our survey showed 18- 24 year olds were the least generous – 47% were not intending to make a donation, while 66% of those in the 65 plus age group were planning to do something for those less fortunate.

“Perhaps surprisingly it is self-funded retirees who are the most generous when compared to other ‘earners’ – including fully employed, home makers and those on a pension – 62% of whom will make a contribution to charity.

“Students are the least likely outside of those not currently employed to part with cash or time in 2011 – though many of those people will be looking for paid work during the summer season.

“There is still some unwillingness to sacrifice gifts for others, though. Only 3% of us will choose to make a donation to charity in lieu of gifts, suggesting putting a gift under the tree remains an important tradition.

“It seems charity will begin in the home this Christmas, despite interest rate cuts and positive economic circumstances Australians are still keeping their extra pennies close by in readiness for 2012,” Osmond said.