The results of our annual longitudinal study, which analyses the effectiveness, engagement and awareness of the Not for Profit sector, will be presented at the one-day Australian Communities Forum in Sydney on October 13. The Australian Community Trends Report delivers a clear analysis of the social context in which the Not for Profit sector is operating, and shows that Australians are a generous bunch, with four in five Australian givers (80%) giving financially to charitable organisations. Some of the findings which are presented in the infographic below from the 2016 research, will be shared by Mark McCrindle and John Rose (R2L & Associates) at the Australian Communities Forum. MOTIVATION FOR GIVING When it comes to motivation to give money to or volunteer with a charitable organisation, children and health are the top causes. Australian charitable givers are most likely to be highly motivated to give money to or volunteer for children’s charities (47%) followed by medical and cancer research organisations (46%) and animal welfare and wildlife support groups (44%). Compared to our 2015 research findings, children’s charities have overtaken health and disaster relief as the highest giving priorities in 2016. THE KEY DECISION DRIVERS The key decision drivers for Australian charitable givers are knowledge and trust of the organisation, which is the most significant influence on Australian givers getting involved with a charitable organisation. Almost seven in 10 Australian givers (68%) indicated that this is extremely or very significant as a motivation for getting involved. Australians are also highly motivated by organisations that make the world a better place for the less fortunate (54%) and also by their own knowledge of a need (52%). THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION CHANNELS The most important communication channels in helping Australian charitable givers to engage with causes, Not for Profit organisations and charitable organisations is through word of mouth by way of friends or family members. This was listed as the most influential channel through which Australian givers hear about and engage with charitable organisations, with 39% of Australian givers considering this to be extremely or very important. This validates the ingrained Aussie “scepticism” and our need to hear information from someone we trust in order to fully trust the information we are receiving. Websites are increasingly seen as reliable sources of information with a third (33%) of Australian givers considering these as extremely or very important to them engaging with a charitable organisation.

1. METHODOLOGY
Nationally representative survey, n = 1,510.
Charity supporter survey, n = 2,688.
Not-for-profit staff survey, n = 875.
6 focus groups (Syd & Mel) of charity givers.
Expert interviews, n = 14.
Research and infographic by
McCrindle Research c b 2016
TOP 7 CAUSES
% of Australians highly motivated by this cause
54%
To make a
better world
Donating goods
Volunteering
Fundraising/promoting
Raising awareness
59%
34%
17%
13%
50%COMMUNITY
INFLUENCERS
4%GLOBAL
ADVOCATES
40%LOCAL
ACTIVATORS
6%OVERSEAS
PARTICIPATORS
H O W A U S T R A L I A N S G E T I N V O L V E D
Children’s charities
Medical research
Animal welfare
Disaster reponse
in Australia
Disability
Mental health
Homelessness
TOP MOTIVATIONS FOR GETTING
INVOLVED WITH CHARITIES
52%
See the
need
68%
Know and trust
the charity
51%
The feeling I get
when I volunteer
51%
Responsibility to give
back to the community
49%
To make a
better world
SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERING
45%
40%
35%
30%
47%
46%
44%
37%
33%
32%
30%
Y Gen Y are more likely to
have volunteered for a charity
(46%) than over 30s (31%).
Gen Y prefer one-off volunteering
activities (31% vs. 19% for over 30s),
and represent a new approach to
volunteering in Australia.
Y Gen Y are almost twice as likely
to prefer raising awareness (40%)
than direct action (23%), but for
over 30s it is the reverse.
Gen Y are more global in outlook
and have less of a focus on local /
national (48%) compared to over
30s (61%).
50%
4 in 5AUSTRALIANS
GIVE FINANCIALLY
TO CHARITIES /
NOT-FOR-PROFITS
THE LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT
CHALLENGE
Australians are twice as likely to...
...give a one-off donation than
to donate regularly
...volunteer for an event than
be an ongoing volunteer
VS. VS.
1 in 4 give at least
once a month
However, 1 in 5
don’t give at all
MOST OF THESE
SUPPORT IN OTHER
WAYS TOO
Y For Gen Y the
number 1 cause is
animal welfare (53%).
56% 28% 21% 11%

2. Y
CHARITIES ARE INCREASINGLY
GETTING IT RIGHT
Water level = % too much - % too little
THE 5 CHARITY ESSENTIALS
% who say this is extremely / very important
H O W C H A R I T I E S C A N E N G A G E
Administration costs kept below 20%
Verification of registration as a charity
Transparent reporting of admin costs
Where donations are allocated
Reporting specific impacts and costs
72%
72%
71%
65%
65%
Y
Gen Y is less focussed on keeping administration costs
below 20%, dropping this to 6th position at 56%.
75%
Just right
+8%
from 2015
66%
Just right
+4%
from 2015
57%
Just right
+9%
from 2015
58%
Just right
+14%
from 2015
Y Charities are getting the balance right with Gen Y, with equal numbers
of Gen Y saying that the frequency of donation requests and the
amount spent on administration are either too much or too little.
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
% who say this is extremely / very important
1
For Gen Y, number 3 is social media (44% vs. 18%).
Word of mouth
Website
Television
39%
33%
31%
2
3
P R A C T I C A L
E M O T I O N A L
BLOCKERS & ENABLERS TO GIVING
B L O C K E R S E N A B L E R S
CHANGES AND CHALLENGES IN
THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
% who strongly / somewhat agree
Y
1
Not surprisingly, Gen Y view the generosity of the
younger generations less harshly (49% strongly /
somewhat agree), but it is still almost half.
Growing gap between rich and poor
Rising cost of living
Younger generations not as generous
73%
67%
60%
2
3
Australians believe the biggest advertising channel in
the next decade will be social media campaigns (29%).
Y This figure is much higher for Gen Y (44%).
Y
Y
Y Y
NPS/NCS = [9+10] - [0+1+2+3+4+5+6]
Scores of promoters Scores of detractors
AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST RATED SECTOR
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely would you be to
recommend this organisation to a friend looking
for a charity to support?
29
NET PROMOTER SCORE (SUPPORTERS)
NET PROMOTER SCORE
+2
from 2015
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely would
you be to recommend this organisation
to a friend looking for a place to work?
NET CULTURE SCORE (STAFF)
21
Personal connection
Show impact of individual gift
Stories of change/impact
Frontline participation
Tech-enabled communications
Values alignment
‘One-click’ giving
Micro-giving, small steps
Oversaturation of charities
Doubting how much gets through
Already give to people in need
Role of government funding
Donation requests intrusive
Risings costs, variable income
Set amounts/ongoing contracts
Complex giving process
Y
Gen Y desire tech-enabled giving and opportunities to engage with
charities by actively participating beyond just giving money.
20%
$