A Third of Donors Plan to Give Less This Quarter, Survey Finds

Just over a third of American donors expect to give less during the final quarter of this year, according to a new survey.

The poll of 603 people who intend to give at least $200 this year found that 55 percent said they would give the same amount as in past years, while only 8 percent of respondents said they plan to give more.

Those who can’t afford to give as much still plan to help charities in some way. Of the 36 percent of people who are planning to give less, 88 percent said they are still making giving a priority.

But they are divided on how they will make cuts. Nearly half (48 percent) of those who are giving less said they are cutting their giving to all causes, while the other half (48 percent) said they are reducing or eliminating their support of certain causes.

According to the poll, 66 percent of those who are giving less are considering making gifts other than cash. Nearly 60 percent said they would give their time and skills; 21 percent said they would donate assets, such as cars or antiques.

Tax incentives played a minor role in most people’s giving decisions, the survey found. Just one-third of donors said that the tax deduction was a significant consideration. For donors who earned more than $100,000, a higher share (42 percent) described the deduction as a significant influence.

The survey was conducted over the phone during September by the firm Opinion Research Corporation. It was supported by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund.