Manitobans Most Generous Charitable Donors Among Canadians: Report

A bank customer takes money from an ATM in Montreal in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz

Manitobans top Canadians as the most generous givers, according to The Fraser Institute’s recently released 2023 Generosity Index.

Regionally, Manitoba stood out for its charitable disposition, with the highest percentage of tax filers donating (19.7 percent) and the highest percentage of aggregate income given to charity (0.74 percent).

Conversely, Quebec reported the lowest percentage of aggregate income donated at 0.26 percent.

“Quebecers rank last among the provinces; they donated… roughly one-third the proportion of Manitobans,” says the report.

Notably, other regions like New Brunswick and the territories also saw lower levels of charitable giving among their tax filers.

Analysis of tax filings from 2021 indicates a downward trend in both the percentage of citizens donating to charity and the overall amount given. Specifically, the proportion of tax filers donating to charities has decreased from 23 percent in 2011 to 17.7 percent in 2021, while the percentage of aggregate income donated fell from 0.59 percent to 0.55 percent during the same period.

In addition, the average dollar value of donations offers a mixed picture, with some provinces like British Columbia and Alberta donating more on average, yet this does not offset the overall trend of decreased giving. The implications of this trend extend beyond numbers, suggesting potential challenges for the charitable sector, heavily reliant on donations to provide a range of essential services.

The Institute’s 2022 Generosity Index released in December 2022 also documented the trend.

Using 2020 Tax Year Data, it found that Canadian tax filers contributed 0.49 percent of their income to charities during the 2020 tax year, marking the lowest since 2000 and showing a peak of generosity at 0.72 percent in 2006. The aggregate income donated rose 0.06 percent from 2020 to 2021, though the overall yearly trend is downward.

The number of Canadian tax filers donating to charity declined from 25.5 percent in 2000 to 19.1 percent in 2020, revealing a 1.4 percent drop to 17.7 from 2020 to 2021.

Both reports emphasize the decreasing trend in charitable giving, indicating a reduction in both the number of Canadians donating and the proportion of income given. The reports highlight the potential impact on Canadian charities’ ability to support community services and address the needs of vulnerable populations.

“This decline in generosity in Canada undoubtedly limits the ability of Canadian charities to improve the quality of life in their communities and beyond,” the report says.

The report refrains from specifying reasons behind the overall dwindling donations, but Canadians have been facing heightened financial pressures lately.

Inflation soared to 8.1 percent in June 2022, and while it has fallen back to 3.1 percent, essential costs like food and housing continue to burden many. To reduce inflation, the central bank has raised interest rates, which has led to escalating borrowing costs.

A December 2023 survey conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of Bloomberg News reveals a stark outlook on personal finances among Canadians compared to 2015.

Over half (53 percent) of Canadians feel their personal finances have worsened since 2015, with only 24 percent feeling better off, revealing a national concern over the cost of living, with many (45 percent) citing it as the most crucial issue affecting their vote.