Jersey has long prided itself on its generosity, but the next generation of charitable donors may be getting priced out of giving, as the organisations they might otherwise support face growing financial pressures of their own…
More than three-quarters of younger Islanders who had not donated to charity over the past year said they simply could not afford to.
The finding comes from new research highlighted in the Association of Jersey Charities’ latest annual report, which offers the first objective picture of charitable giving in the Island.
Giving remains high… but affordability is biting
The study, carried out by 4insight at no cost to the AJC, found that younger people and lower-income households were less likely to have given money during the previous 12 months.
Among younger respondents who had not donated, 76% selected “I can’t afford it” as the reason – substantially higher than the 47% recorded across all age groups.
The findings were included in the AJC’s latest annual report and impact review, which warned that funding and long-term sustainability were the overriding concerns among its members.
The research showed that charitable giving remained widespread across the Island, with 89% of respondents saying they had donated money during the previous year.
Almost one-quarter (24%) said they had given more than the year before, while 13% reported donating less.
The study, carried out by 4insight at no cost to the AJC, was described as the first objective picture of charitable giving in Jersey, including comparisons with national benchmarks.
It found that Islanders were also supporting good causes in ways that did not involve giving money, with donating goods the most common form of non-monetary help, reported by 76% of respondents. Just 11% said they did not contribute in any non-financial way.
Charities feeling the squeeze too
But the affordability pressures facing donors come as charities themselves confront a funding squeeze.
Lottery funding received by the AJC fell by £120,195 to £428,705, while the association increasingly relied on an anonymous donation fund to finance grants.
That fund is finite – and the AJC warned that this fund was being depleted rather than replenished.
Despite the pressure, the AJC made total grant commitments of almost £1.26 million during the year – 81% more than the previous year. However, it noted this level of support could not continue indefinitely under the current arrangements.
“This level of grant giving is not sustainable on its current footing,” the report said.
“Over the year ahead we will look to bolster our grant funding resources, and/or manage the programme in a way that keeps it as impactful as possible for recipients while putting it on a more sustainable long-term footing.”
Finding other ways to give
The findings suggest volunteering and other forms of support could become increasingly important as household budgets remain stretched.
The AJC plans to launch a dedicated volunteering campaign alongside its annual giving drive, while developing a storytelling programme to highlight the impact of Jersey charities.
The report and findings were presented at the AJC’s AGM in July by CEO Marcus Liddiard.
Speaking after the annual gathering, he said: “In my first year as CEO, I have listened carefully to members to really understand their challenges and what more we could do for them. Three needs came through consistently in those conversations – support with fundraising, support with collaboration and efficient back-office functions, and support with training. In response, we have spent the year converting our strategy from a document into delivery to respond to those needs, and we’ve been encouraged by the results.
“Of course, the challenges faced by the sector remain significant but we remain committed to continuing to champion and advocate for the sector to ensure it continues to thrive and make a real difference across our island.”
