FOUR in 10 generous Limerick people plan to donate to charity this Christmas, putting Munster tops in the giving league nationally.
However most will donate less than usual and a charity watchdog is warning people to check causes they are supporting are legitimate.
The Charities Regulator’s second annual survey, carried out by Amárach, revealed that four in 10 people in Munster will donate less this Christmas due to cost of living concerns, however support across the province for charities is still strongly evident.
The survey found that Munster donors are most likely to give money (78 per cent), followed by purchasing charity Christmas cards/merchandise (47 per cent), donating food/beverages (32 per cent), or a gift bought specifically to donate to a charitable cause (20 per cent).
The number of people in Munster intending to donate unwanted gifts has fallen sharply from 35 per cent in 2022 to 19 per cent, the research showed, possibly indicating that people expect to receive fewer gifts this year or to keep those they get.
The survey also found that many donors in Munster are loyal and local, with 37 per cent donating to the same charity each year with a quarter (25 per cent) giving to a local charity at Christmas.
Helen Martin, chief executive of the Charities Regulator, said that “people want to know how their donations are used and see evidence of what has been achieved using their donations. They can check a charity is registered and find basic information on its finances and activities at CheckACharity.ie.”
The 2023 survey was conducted online with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults in Ireland from November 15 to 17.
