Despite the Economy, Majority of Americans Will Maintain Their Levels of Charitable Giving This Holiday Season, According to Survey by the American Red Cross

Red Cross offers online holiday giving catalog at www.redcross.org/gifts

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In spite of the economic downturn, Americans remain committed to digging deep into their pockets to support charitable causes this holiday season even as they cut back more on other holiday activities, according to a new national survey by the American Red Cross.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090108/RedCrossLOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090108/RedCrossLOGO)

While 86 percent of Americans reported their personal finances are the same or worse than last year, 72 percent expect to give the same amount or more than last year to charity.

And nearly six in 10 say that because the economy is in bad shape it is more important this year to give to charity.

"While the economy is still difficult for many people this year, the majority of Americans still expect to maintain their levels of charitable giving," said Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross.  "Americans understand that the needs are great and while it has never been harder to give, it has never felt better."

The survey, conducted October 21-24, found that seven in 10 people (70 percent) are planning to reduce spending for at least one common holiday expense.  More than four in 10 plan to reduce spending on travel (43 percent) and decorations (45 percent), and more than a third will make cuts in entertaining (38 percent) and gifts (35 percent) for friends and family.  By comparison, only about one of five (23 percent) plan to reduce their charitable contributions compared to last year.  

About a third (32 percent) say they are not planning charitable donations over the holidays, with half of them (52 percent) saying they just don't have the money to donate.  

Red Cross Kicking Off 2010 Holiday Giving Campaign

The Red Cross announced the survey findings as it kicked off its second holiday giving campaign, featuring its holiday giving catalog, www.redcross.org/gifts.  The Red Cross has more than 20 gift ideas — such as assisting someone in the military with a phone card or supplies, providing food and shelter to a disaster victim, covering the costs of snacks at a blood drive, or giving basic necessities to a family in another country.  

In addition, for the first time, the Red Cross is offering a Spanish-language version of the catalog, www.cruzrojaamericana.org/catalogo.    

The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution to the overall mission of the American Red Cross.  On the rare occasion when donations exceed the need in a particular area, we will use your contribution to help others where the need is greatest.  

More Women Committed to Donations to Charity, but Men Giving Higher Amounts

The Red Cross survey found that women have a strong sense of giving as a part of the holiday tradition and are more likely to take the current economy into consideration when giving.  When it comes to opening their wallets, however, men tend to give to charity in higher amounts.

About seven in eight women (86 percent) say that helping someone less fortunate is an important part of the holiday tradition, higher than the 69 percent of men.  Nearly two in three women (65 percent) feel charitable giving is more important in light of the economy; only half of men (51 percent) agree.

However, while women report a higher propensity to give, the survey shows that men seem to dig a little deeper to do so.  Of the three in five Americans (57 percent) planning to donate to charity this holiday season, around two in five men (38 percent) will give more than $100 to charity.  Only about one in four women (24 percent) plan to donate that amount.  

*These results are based on a national probability sample of 1,005 telephone interviews among adults 18 years and older living in private households in the continental United States, conducted from October 21-24, 2010.  The margin of error for data based on total sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.  The survey was conducted by CARAVAN®, an omnibus service of Infogroup - ORC for American Red Cross.  

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross