Generous Americans: Those with Lowest Incomes Contribute More Often than Higher Income Groups to a Broad Range of Causes

A new survey breaks down charitable giving from Americans.

Lehigh Valley, PA (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- Ninety-five percent of American adults make contributions of time or money to causes that are important to them, according to a recent (August 30- September 2, 2007) telephone survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, sponsored by DayTimers. Individuals who make $25K - $35K contribute to a wider variety of causes more than any other income range. They contribute more often to these causes: health-related, community needs, human services, education, environment, animal rights, issues and politics, and ethnic causes. Only two percent of people in this income range do not contribute to causes.

Cause     Total ($25K - LT $35K) ($35K - LT $50K) ($50K - LT $75) ($75K or More)

Health related    

72%     81%     71%     73%     76%

Community needs    

63%     76%     63%     67%     59%

Human services    

63%     69%     62%     57%     64%

Education    

61%     70%     61%     62%     62%

Religious

Organizations    

53%     54%     54%     49%     61%

Environment    

53%     70%     57%     47%     49%

Animal Rights    

41%     66%     40%     37%     33%

Issues/Political    

39%     51%     39%     33%     41%

Ethnic Causes    

24%     36%     19%     22%     19%

Do Not Contribute    

4%     2%     4%     3%     2%

"It's not surprising to us that the causes that most people contribute to are health-related," Woytek said. "DayTimers has a number of health-related products, including our Pink Ribbon line, from which we donate 10 percent of proceeds to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. These items are some of our most popular, both online and in major retail stores around the country."

"This survey showed us that every age group, from 18-65+, was highly motivated in many different ways to support a particular cause," Woytek noted. Sixty-eight percent of 18 - 24 year olds said they frequently donate by purchasing products from companies that give a percentage of their bottom line to charities that are important to them. Seventy-one percent of this age group said that they buy products from companies that donate a percentage of the price to a cause they believe in.

Woman donate more often then men

In eight different categories, females donate time or money more than males. The one category that men donate to more often than women is contributing to causes such as pro-choice/pro-life, or to a political party. And six percent of men vs. two percent of women do not contribute time or money to any cause.

Cause     Total     Male      Female

Health related    

72%     65%     79%

Community needs    

63%     57%     69%

Human services    

63%     54%     71%

Education    

61%     59%     63%

Religious

Organizations    

53%     47%     59%

Environment    

53%     49%     56%

Animal Rights    

41%     33%     49%

Issues/Political    

39%     41%     37%

Ethnic Causes    

24%     22%     27%

Do Not Contribute    

4%     6%     2%

Giving motivations

The majority of respondents (84%) said they were motivated to support a particular cause because they wanted to give back to the community. Eighty-two percent felt that they could make a difference with their donation. Seventy-one percent donated to a cause because they knew someone who was affected by the cause, while 65 percent donated because they themselves were affected by the cause. Twenty-seven percent admitted that they supported a particular cause because it was a tax write-off and another 24 percent because it made them look good in other people's eyes, thereby admitting that they care about what people think of them.

How much?

Twenty-four percent of respondents contribute more than $1,000 per year to all of the causes they support, while 48 percent contribute between $100 and $1,000. Ten percent contribute $26 - $99, and seven percent contribute between $1 and $25. Only two percent of respondents donate time only.

The 2007 DayTimers Generosity Survey (www.daytimer.com) was conducted via telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on August 30 - September 2, 2007 as part of an omnibus study. A total of 1,001 adults in the continental U.S. including 501 men and 500 women 18 years and older, participated in the survey. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points. The interviews were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic region, and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population. The data was also cross-tabulated by sex, age, region, race, household income, household size, children in household, and education.

About DayTimers:

Established in 1947, DayTimers, Inc. is the original American provider of time management solutions and organization tools to help simplify life. DayTimers is a subsidiary of ACCO Brands (NYSE: ABD). The complete DayTimer® line of planners, luxury leather covers, portfolios, handbags and more can be found at www.daytimer.com or by calling 1-800-225-5005. Select organization tools are also available at Staples, Office Depot, and other major office supply retailers.

Contact: Leesa Raab, LaMotta Strategic Communications, Inc. 845-358-6306(o).

Subsidiary of ACCO Brands Corporation

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