Almsgiving remains the most popular form of charity in Russia

The most common form of monetary donations among Russians is alms: almost every fourth Russian (24%) gave it in 2023. This is evidenced by the results of an all-Russian survey conducted by the Center for Research on Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. In total, more than half of Russians (53%) made charitable donations: every tenth donated money often, approximately every third – rarely; 6% made a donation only once during 2023. Almost twice as many Russians provided assistance to SVO participants or combat veterans in 2023 than in 2022.

In 2023, 53% of Russians made charitable donations, giving money to strangers in need. In particular, one in ten (11%) donated money often, about one in three (36%) donated money rarely, although repeatedly, and 6% donated only once in the last year. This is evidenced by the results of an all-Russian survey conducted by the Center for Research on Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. Compared to last year, the share of philanthropists has remained almost unchanged: it has fluctuated steadily between 53% and 57% for about ten years, with the exception of a peak in 2019 (63%). In 2022 it was 54%.

Those surveyed aged 25–34 were the most active in donating money (61%, including 56% more than once). Respondents over 60 years of age are less active: among them, 46% are donors, including 40% – repeatedly. The most generous were the North Caucasus (71%) and Far Eastern (62%) federal districts. The share of donors is lowest in the Southern Federal District (42%). Researchers note that the willingness to share resources with other people is influenced by material well-being: the share of philanthropists is 37% among those who themselves do not always have money even for food, and reaches 81% among the wealthiest Russians who can afford to buy an apartment or house.

Sociologist, founder of the Center for Social Design “Platform” Alexey Firsov explains that the fact of donation does not always depend on the availability of money. Cultural characteristics also have an influence: in the North Caucasus, tribal relations play an important role, and in the Far East, horizontal connections are developed, and often these regions show similar results. In the Southern Federal District, according to Mr. Firsov, there is a long tradition of individualism. “The very fact of charity is based not only on ethical concepts such as kindness and justice, but also on the attitude towards money,” he explains. “Young people do not have the historical experience of the 1990s, they did not feel consumer stress even after the start of the SVO.” Charity has become a “more natural activity” for young people.

In 2023, more than half of Russians (52%) expressed confidence that most NPOs and charitable foundations can be trusted. At the same time, Russians prefer to transfer financial assistance through informal channels: the most common form is alms, which was given by almost every second among those who donated money, that is, approximately every fourth respondent (24%). It should be noted that over the course of the decade, the share of alms was decreasing: in the mid-2010s, more than a third of respondents gave it.

A third of donors gave money personally to recipients (18% of all respondents) and approximately every tenth – through relatives and friends of those in need (6% of respondents). Thus, 40% of donors participated in unorganized charity. Alexey Firsov explains that in Russia in general there is a high level of distrust in public institutions: “There is a desire for independent action, without an intermediary. But we are dealing with a vague indicator, and the level of trust in NPOs at 52% can be a declarative figure.” According to the sociologist, this indicator may be influenced by “the state’s ability to control NPOs” and “the emergence of established brands like the Podari Zhizn fund.”

Most often, Russians donate to help sick children (42% of philanthropists). In second place in importance is supporting the elderly (27% of philanthropists) and helping animals (23%). 19% donated to help orphans, 18% of philanthropists donated to help participants of the Northern Military District or combat veterans. Compared to last year, the balance of priorities “has not changed significantly,” says Irina Mersiyanova, director of the Center for Research on Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noting the exception: “Almost twice as many Russians provided assistance to military personnel of the Northern Military District or combat veterans in 2023 as in 2022.”

Russians “over time began to notice to a much greater extent the involvement of charitable institutions in solving pressing social problems,” says Ms. Mersiyanova. In 2020, during the pandemic, only 10% of respondents believed that charities really help during the pandemic, and 27% believed that NGOs should do this. The active work of NPOs and volunteers, according to Ms. Mersiyanova, has increased the “visibility” of the non-profit sector in the eyes of the population, and during the CBO period, the share of those who believe that charitable organizations should help its participants was already 51%, and the share of those who see assistance to NGOs in this direction reached 37%.

Philanthropy expert Alexandra Babkina considers the preservation of the number of people participating in charitable activities, albeit not systemic, to be a positive factor: “Most likely, we are talking about an even greater preponderance in favor of targeted and direct assistance, not through NGOs, and the expansion of new relevant areas ( related to SVO.— “Kommersant”). It is important that foundations that are engaged in systemic changes have new sources of donations and new donors. This can be helped by new technological tools for collecting donations on social networks, information campaigns aimed at new audiences, and new business projects that involve customers and partners.”

Kirill Klyuchnikov, Natalya Kostarnova