People reluctant to make long-term commitments to charities

People are moving away from making long-term commitments to charity, opting instead to donate to bucket collections and charity shops, new research has found.

The study, by UK research consultancy NfpSynergy, found the percentage of people donating via direct debits and standing orders had fallen, probably due to the recession.

Joe Saxton of NfpSynergy said the survey of more than 1,400 Irish people earlier this year found 23 per cent donated by direct debit or standing order, compared with more than 30 per cent four years earlier. Some 77 per cent said they donated to charity shops and the same percentage gave to bucket collections on the street.

There was also a shift towards giving to local charities, and this was particularly pronounced in Cork. “People are coming back to what they think might benefit them and their communities much more.”

The news comes as National Giving Week gets under way today. Organised by the One Percent Difference campaign, the week aims to create a debate about giving and philanthropy.

The One Per Cent Difference campaign encourages people to give one per cent of their time or income to a charity or cause they believe in. There has been a 10 per cent drop in the number of people giving to good causes since 2008.