People in Austria donated more than €1 billion in 2023, reaching €1.075 billion. However, this was less than the €1.1 billion given in 2022, according to the 2024 Donations Report from the Fundraising Association Austria.

The association expects donations to drop further in 2024, with a forecast of €1.03 billion, which could create challenges for charitable organisations.

Ruth Williams, Managing Director of the Fundraising Association, described the 2023 total as “an extremely positive result in times of the highest inflation in 50 years.”

While support for victims of the war in Ukraine has decreased, donations were largely driven by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, as well as domestic disaster relief efforts. Donations for environmental and animal protection also saw a significant increase. The association noted that engagement during the Christmas season will be more crucial than ever in determining the outcome for 2024.

Around 80% of all donations in Austria come from private individuals, according to Williams.

Many countries saw sharp declines in donations last year, including Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, all of which experienced double-digit decreases. The drop in Austria can also be partly attributed to reduced contributions for Ukraine aid. While the “Neighbour in Need” campaign raised a record €52.5 million for Ukraine in 2022, donations for the cause fell to just €5.6 million in 2023.

The social and health sectors, along with international aid, saw a 1% decline compared to the previous year. However, these areas still receive the majority of donations, accounting for 29% and 25%, respectively. Meanwhile, 15% of last year’s donations went to science, research and universities, while 11% supported environmental and animal protection causes.