Charitable givers: Canadians donated more to charities in 2001

(November 21, 2002) Canadians reached into their pocketbooks to give more to charities last year.

Statistics Canada says 5.5 million taxfilers reported charitable donations totalling $5.51 billion in 2001, compared with gifts of almost $5.44 billion the year before. There was roughly the same number of donors in 2000.

The 2001 donations increased 1.4% from 2000, and Stats Canada notes this was below the 2.6% increase in inflation. The data released today was gathered from income tax returns filed in the spring of 2002.

The median donation nationally in 2001 was $200. Nunavut residents had the highest median donation at $360, followed by Prince Edward Island at $320 and Newfoundland and Labrador at $300.

The highest percentages of taxfilers declaring donations in 2001 were in Manitoba (29%), Ontario (28%), Saskatchewan (27%) and Prince Edward Island (27%). Nationally, just over 25% of taxfilers declared charitable donations. Ontario residents represented 41% of all donors and reported 50% of all donations.

Donations increased in all provinces and territories except Nova Scotia and British Columbia. The largest increases were in Nunavut (+15.8%), the Northwest Territories (+14.4%), Yukon (+10.3%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (+8.8%).

Statistics Canada says the number of donors declined in eight provinces and territories. However, there were small increases in Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Yukon, with the largest increase in the Northwest Territories (+5.3%).

The level of charitable giving in Canada has risen steadily for a decade, through economic slumps and periods of growth.

Stats Canada acknowledges that taxpayers can carry donations forward for up to five years after the year in which they were made. Therefore, donations reported in 2001 could include donations that were made in previous years. Also, taxfilers can claim both their donations and those made by their spouses to get better tax benefits. As a result, the number of persons who made charitable donations may be higher than the number who claimed tax credits.

Filed by Jim MacDonald, Advisor.ca, jmacdonald@advisor.ca.

(11/21/02)