Generous French charity giving goes beyond money
The French are very generous when it comes to giving to charity, a new poll has shown, with over 90% giving not just money, but also gifts, food, clothes, and volunteering time - and some not even realising how generous they are.
A survey by Odoxa, for prize fund group Leetchi and news source France Bleue, found that on average, French people give €246 per inhabitant per year, whether to charities, charitable associations, projects or foundations
Financially-speaking, the amount given per region broadly aligns with the average amount of disposable income in each; but the picture changes considerably when non-financial gifts and aid are also taken into account.
Financially, Provence-Alpes-Côtes-d’Azur gives the most - at €363 per year - followed by Île-de-France (€355) and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (€313). This compares to the lowest financial givers, in Hauts-de-France (€170), Pays-de-la-Loire (€167) and Normandy (€163).
But, when taking into account charitable giving including clothes, food banks, children’s toys, and restaurant vouchers, as well as actual time spent helping out at volunteer and charity groups, regions such as Normandy begin to catch up.
Similarly, other regions such as Hauts-de-France may give less in financial aid, but they are more likely than average to give pledges to online funds such as crowdfunding projects, the study showed.
Almost nine in ten people (88%) give something other than money to charity every year.
The poll also found that across France, people underestimate the extent of their giving.
Around 80% of people said they give regularly to charity, but once the study aggregated all of its data - including financial AND non-financial gifts - the figure actually appeared closer to 90%.
This compares positively to figures by other similar nations, such as the UK, where 2017 statistics from the National Philanthropic Trust showed that 61% of people said they gave money to charity every year, and 70% of people had volunteered in some capacity in the last 12 months.
Gaël Sliman, president and co-founder of Odoxa, said: “Basically, pretty much everyone gives something [in France]. It is not surprising that PACA and Île-de-France are the most generous, as they are the regions where people have the most disposable income.
But in Normandy, where they give the least money, they are actually at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to giving away books and toys. In Brittany, they are much higher than average when it comes to giving away clothes and food.”
The poll showed that French people are most likely to give to a charity that appears trustworthy and transparent, clearly showing where the money or aid will go, and how much it will help.
Medical research charities are also most likely to receive funds, the study showed.
Mr Sliman added: “It appears that the main motivator [for giving] is transparency - on the use of the funds, the destination or user of the donations, or assurances that the donation will really go on to help and make a difference.”
