MOSCOW, August 14, 2009. Russian Public Opinion research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing what kind of assistance Russians provide to their relatives, how often they do it, how much money they spend on charity, and whether they receive such assistance as well.
More than half of Russians have not been involved in any charitable activities (53% of respondents in 2009 and only 50% in 2007). Among those who got involved, giving alms is the most popular answer (32% in 2009 and 36% in 2007), as well as giving clothes, toys for orphanages and homes for people with disabilities and et cet. (18% in 2009 and 19% in 2007). Other 4-5% of respondents contributed funds to the accounts of needy people; 3-4% contributed funds to charitable organizations, and 2-4% took part in charitable concerts, exhibitions and auctions.
Among those involved in charity during recent four or five years, every fifth does it regularly (20% in 2009 and 17% in 2007). More than half of respondents were involved in charitable activities several times (53% in 2009 and 57% in 2007). Fourteen percent of respondents took part in such actions only once both in 2009 and two years ago.
Half of Russians (51%) providing financial assistance to the needy spent up to 500 rubles on that, given that the same sum of money was spent by 66% of Russians in 2007. there is a slight decrease (from 73% to 66%) over recent three years in the proportion of Russians positively assessing the effects of the charitable activities.
The main reason why Russians do not provide charitable assistance to their close people and relatives is their own problems (55% of respondents complain about it which is 5% less compared to 2007). A considerable amount of respondents (18%) do not believe that assistance provided will reach the addressee and will be properly used. Over the recent two years the number of those who think that such assistance should be provided by state went down (from 17% to 13%). The least popular argument expressed by respondents is the following: "In the modern world everyone should solve their own problems and do not expect anyone to help" - only 9% of Russians think so.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (93%) has never received any charitable aid. Remarkable is that since 2007 the amount of such respondents has declined: two years ago they were 85%.
Those who need assistance most (respondents who do not even have money to buy food) generally receive aid in the form of products; at the same time all other groups receive financial assistance instead.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on March 7-8, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Have you personally been involved in any charitable activities over the recent four or five years? If yes, then what kind of activities? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
I contributed money to charitable organizations and funds | 4 | 3 |
I contributed money to accounts of needy people (for treatment, surgery et cet.) | 4 | 5 |
I gave clothes, toys (for orphanages, homes for people with disabilities, nursing homes) | 19 | 18 |
I took part in charitable actions (concerts, exhibitions, charitable lotteries, auctions) | 4 | 2 |
I participated in volunteering (work for free in crisis centers, hospitals, nursing homes, social services) | 3 | 2 |
I gave alms | 36 | 32 |
I was not involved in charities | 50 | 53 |
Hard to tell | 0 | 1 |
How often have you been involved in charitable activities over recent 4-5 years? (% of respondents who personally took part in charities for recent 4-5 years; close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
I am regularly involved in charities | 17 | 20 |
I took part in charitable activities several times | 57 | 53 |
I took part in charitable activities only once | 14 | 14 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 13 |
No answer | 0 | 1 |
If you provided financial assistance to the needy over this year, how much money did you spent? (% of respondents who were personally involved in charities in recent 4-5 years; close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
up to 100 rubles | 43 | 29 |
from 101 to 500 | 23 | 22 |
from 501 to 1000 | 5 | 8 |
from 1001 to 5000 rubles | 3 | 5 |
more than 5000 rubles | 2 | 1 |
I did not provide any financial assistance | 14 | 22 |
Hard to tell | 10 | 13 |
How would you assess the results of your charitable activities? (% of respondents who personally took part in charities for recent 4-5 years; close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2006 | 2009 |
Positive in general | 73 | 66 |
Negative in general | 4 | 6 |
I did not take part | 3 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 20 | 26 |
If you did not take part in charitable activities, then why? (% of respondents who did not personally take part in charities for recent 4-5 years; close-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
Me and my family have our own problems; we do not have any chance to take part in charitable actions | 60 | 55 |
I do not believe that the assistance will reach addressee and will be used properly | 16 | 18 |
The assistance for needy people should be provided by state but not givers | 17 | 13 |
In the modern world everyone should solve their own problems and do not expect anyone to help | 6 | 9 |
Hard to tell | 10 | 12 |
Did you receive any charitable assistance? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2007 | 2009 |
Yes, several times | 5 | 3 |
Yes, once | 7 | 4 |
No | 85 | 93 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 1 |
If you received charitable assistance, could you tell what kind of assistance? (% of respondents who received any kind of assistance; close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| Total respondents | Purchasing power | |||
We barely can make ends meet. We do not have money even to buy food. | We have enough money to buy products, but not clothes. | We have enough money to buy food and clothes but not consumer durables | We can easily buy consumer durables | ||
Financial and material help | 48 | 29 | 43 | 59 | 47 |
Food and products | 18 | 50 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
Clothes, humanitarian aid | 26 | 14 | 23 | 30 | 29 |
Other | 18 | 29 | 20 | 15 | 12 |
Hard to tell | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 6 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!