Austrians donated more than one billion euros again during 2024. However, with a total of 1.07 billion euros, the overall amount declined slightly for the second year in a row. The Fundraising Association Austria cited inflation, recession, and a growing number of crisis hotspots as the reason on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the share of donors in society (79 percent) reached a record high.
Donations were particularly influenced by the flooding disaster in eastern Austria in 2024. Environmental and animal protection causes also saw an increase. Support for development cooperation, however, continued to decline in importance. According to the umbrella organization for donation-based charities, this threatens life-saving projects.
Continuous growth in donations between 2008 and 2022
Between 2008 and 2022, Austria’s donation sector was able to raise more money each year. According to the press release, total donations grew from 360 million euros to a record 1.1 billion euros in 2022. A turning point emerged in 2023. “The main reasons were decreasing support for aid to Ukraine, economic stagnation, and record inflation,” the Fundraising Association said. Still, donations remained at a very high level.
“The analysis of last year’s donations underlines the strong resilience of Austria’s fundraising landscape, which is supported 82 percent by private households. Despite major societal challenges, people living in Austria have hardly reduced their support for charitable causes—proof of the high regard for nonprofit work,” said Ruth Williams, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Association Austria.
More and more people are giving money
According to a Public Opinion survey of 1,000 people, the share of donors in the population not only remains consistently high compared to many other countries, it even increased in 2024. In total, 70 percent of people in Austria said they donated last year. Residents of the western states of Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg were especially generous (88 percent), while people in Upper Austria donated least often. The average amount donated per person was also clearly higher in the west at 202 euros, compared with 119 euros in Vienna and 109 euros in Burgenland and Lower Austria.
The key driver of Austria’s strong total donation amount is the large number of smaller contributions (81 percent) under 200 euros. Only 2.6 percent of donors gave more than 1,000 euros.
