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Charitable Giving In the course of a shaky local economy and stagnant or falling incomes, Orange County's charitable donations made a sharp drop from last year. The median annual donation reported in 1992 is $146 -- down $83, or 35 percent, from the median of $229 reported in 1991. The 1992 median donation is the lowest reported since
the Annual Survey began asking about charitable behavior in 1987. That
year, the median donation was $262 -- $116 higher than today. The 1992
rate is down $139 -- or 49 percent -- from the peak donation of $285
in 1989. Charitable giving declined significantly in the upper-income groups. Of those with household incomes over $50,000, 36 percent gave more than $500 this year, compared to 44 percent in 1991. And in the $36,000 to $50,000 bracket, 18 percent made a large donation this year, compared to 28 percent last year. In households making less than $36,000, 7 percent gave more than $500 this year, basically unchanged from 1991. By age, giving has fallen steeply among the groups
that traditionally give the most. Of those aged 35 to 54, 29 percent
gave more than $500, down considerably from 41 percent last year. And
30 percent of those over 55 gave this amount, down from 37 percent in
1991. Among those under 35, 11 percent gave more than $500 to charity,
about the same as last year. Although past years have seen no difference in the rate of charitable giving by region, significant differences emerged this year. Those in the South are considerably more likely to have given more than $500 (31%) than are those in the North (19%), West (24%) and Central County (16%). This reflects the continued affluence of the South, compared to the rest of the county. Of five types of causes listed, Orange County residents consider the most important charitable needs in Orange County to be programs to feed and shelter the needy (57%), medical research and education (55%) and medical care facilities (51%). Forty-four percent give a similar high priority to donating their money to colleges and universities. Only 17 percent, by contrast, say that museums and the performing arts are highly deserving of their charitable donations. The 1992 ratings of charitable causes in Orange County are almost identical to the findings in the 1991 survey. Residents with household incomes above $50,000 are less likely than others to rate food and shelter for the needy (49% to 62%), medical research and education (49% to 60%), medical care facilities (44% to 59%) and universities and colleges (38% to 48%) as important Orange County charitable needs. There are no income differences for the performing arts and museums. Residents 35 and older are less likely than others to rate food and shelter for the needy (53% to 61%), medical research and education (49% to 63%), medical care facilities (45% to 60%) and universities and colleges (38% to 52%) as important Orange County charitable needs. There are no income differences for the performing arts and museums. The only significant difference by region is the lower importance given to food and shelter for the needy by South County residents compared to others (49% to 59%). All the demographic trends suggest that residents who are typically in the best position to donate money -- people 35 and older, those living in the affluent South County area, and higher income households -- are generally less likely to rate these charitable causes as important needs in Orange County. This would point to a more difficult time to raise money for charities, perhaps because of the effects of the recession on the county's higher-status and middle-aged residents. |
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