Idis: donations to social causes totaled R$ 12.8 billion in 2022 – 08/25/2023 – Folha Social+

The volume of donations made by individuals to social and environmental causes in Brazil reached BRL 12.8 billion in 2022, according to the Doação Brasil survey, published this Thursday (24).

The number represents a growth of 24.2% in relation to the total estimated donations in 2020, which was R$ 10.3 billion.

The study was commissioned by Idis (Institute for the Development of Social Investment) and carried out by Ipsos, a market research company.

“At Pesquisa Doação Brasil we dedicate ourselves to understanding who the donors are, what their motivations are and what their perception of NGOs is”, says Paula Fabiani, CEO of Idis.

Pix was the means used in 39% of donations in the period. In the last publication, this feature represented only 8% of transactions. Cash and direct debit come next, representing 33% and 17%, respectively.

The number of rounded donors -those who give up change in commercial establishments to contribute to socio-environmental causes- also grew and reached 11% in the last survey, against 1% in 2020.

The estimate considered cash donations to NGOs, social works, calamities or pandemic. The survey also includes TV campaigns and groups or individuals helping those in need, excluding tithes and alms.

The percentage of Brazilians who made a donation of this type in 2022 reached 36%, against 41% in 2020. In the analysis by region, the Northeast has the highest percentage of donors: 39%.

On the other hand, when also considering non-monetary contributions, the survey shows that Brazilians were more engaged in socio-environmental causes last year.

The percentage of adults with income above 1 minimum wage who claimed to have contributed to these agendas, whether with money, goods or volunteering, reached 84%.

In 2020, the year in which the pandemic presented one of the most acute phases, this total was 66%.

There was also an increase in the median amount donated per person over a year, which in 2022 was R$ 300. In the last survey, carried out in 2020, this data was estimated at R$ 200.00.

The numbers also show that Brazilians’ confidence in the work of NGOs has dropped.

In 2020, those who stated that these organizations make it clear what they do with the resources received represented 45%. In the new balance sheet, 31% said they had this perception.

Furthermore, in 2022, 31% said they believe most NGOs are trustworthy, up from 41% in 2020.

“The survey shows the effects of the pandemic and how the third sector is still quite volatile and prone to accompanying the social context”, says Luisa Lima, communication and knowledge manager at IDIS.

Although Brazil has increased the volume of donations to formal philanthropic initiatives, this total represents only 0.13% of GDP.

“In countries like the United States, this percentage is ten times higher. There, the culture of donation is more rooted”, explains Paula Fabiani.

“Despite that, what we have in common with them is that both here and there, individual donation is significantly higher than donations by companies, demonstrating the importance of promoting and talking about the subject”

According to her, the research shows that Brazilians tend to make the country climb positions in this scenario.

“Brazil has the potential to double the volume of donations, but for that it is necessary to invest in improving the regulatory environment for donations and in public policies that promote this culture”, he adds.