✏️ Exciting News: Our website is getting a fresh new look - stay tuned! 💻

Book now
Should I make free gifts?
Most charities and aid projects – for people, for animals or for planet earth – depend on donations. If and what you want to give is entirely up to you. There is no obligation. But there are also very few arguments for not making a contribution.

Giving to those who have nothing

About two thirds of Austrians give donations. Most of them do it because they want to help or sympathise with those who cannot give anything because they have nothing. They also do it to support rescue projects for endangered species – or our whole planet.

Giving things or time instead of money

Organisations that assist poor people, work to protect the environment or engage in other charitable and advocacy work need money for their activities. The government supports these activities by granting tax deductibility for charitable donations. You can deduct the amount of your donations from your income which means that you have to pay less in taxes. However, this applies only to donations given to organisations listed on the government register of eligible charities[KW1] .

https://service.bmf.gv.at/Service/allg/spenden/show_mast.asp#aw

Clothes, toys – and blood

You do not necessarily have to donate money to contribute to a worthy cause. You may also give things you do not need (any more), but which are useful for others, such as toys or clothes you have grown out of (contributions to used clothes collections are the most frequent type of donation). And by donating blood, you can even save lives.

Giving time to a good cause

Time is another valuable good you can donate. You could spend time with elderly persons who are lonely, or take some time to work as a volunteer firefighter, youth worker or tutor for young people, to name just a few voluntary activities. Nearly half of all Austrians are active in some voluntary capacity or other.

What do I get out of it?

It may help with a job application if you have worked as a volunteer in an activity that is compatible with your prospective employer’s profile. It shows your commitment. And of course, your contribution – whether it is time, money, or things – helps to make projects succeed which are important to you. But the most essential argument may be that being generous (instead of self-centred) creates a lasting feeling of happiness, as neuroscientists have found out. You feel solidarity with others, and you realise that together with others, you can make a difference.

3 Arguments against donations

1 Donations do not reach their intended destination
“The organisations use the money for any purpose, not for the projects that I like.”
2 Most donated money goes towards administrative expenses
“Only a fraction of the money actually goes to the projects I’d like to support. Most of it is spent on the upkeep of the organisation’s offices.”

3 It’s just a drop in the bucket

“What difference will my handful of euros make? No matter what I do – it doesn’t change anything.”

Is that true?

There may be some truth in all three points. You should therefore do some serious thinking before giving money, time, or things to charity. Charitable organisations often know very well where help is most urgently needed and focus on these points of greatest need. Some administrative expenses are inevitable (rent for office space, salaries, equipment, internet connection, etc.). And one thing is certain: if too few people have the courage to commit to a cause, it will be lost from the outset.

Where should my contribution go?

You should know the organisation to which you contribute as well as the purpose for which your contribution is used. Most donations in Austria are made in aid of children in need (27 per cent), for animal welfare (22 per cent) and for disaster relief. Which cause you want to support depends on your interests: it could be climate protection, aid for disadvantaged children or protection of endangered species, to name just a few examples.

A genuine charitable cause?

REPUTATION?
Take the time to get some in-depth information before choosing a charity. What is the standing of the organisation you are considering? Is it government certified and carries the official government seal of quality (Spendengütesiegel, OSGS)[KW1] ?

https://www.osgs.at/ Some smaller organisations prefer not to spend money on acquiring the seal, but are reputable charities nonetheless. How can you make sure? You could, for example, go to the organisation’s website and read their latest annual report, or request them to send you a copy. The report will show you how much money the organisation spends on which projects and whether its accounting makes sense and is transparent.

They make all the difference!

GOOD PROJECTS?
A significant 43 per cent of all donors say they give mainly because they can afford to. Would you see yourself in this group – or would you rather support an organisation’s projects because they are so important to you? Take your time to find something that is convincing for you – and which you may want to support for a longer period.

Contributing to administration

EFFICIENCY?
Many people do not want to donate to charities because they believe that too much of the money goes towards covering administrative expenses. Administrative expenses cannot be avoided altogether – after all, people who work for charitbale organisations also need to earn a salary. There is no hard and fast rule about how much may or may not be spent on administration. A tip: read the financial reports to see whether enough money is spent on the things you want to support.

Read more
The Austrian Fundraising Association (Fundraising Verband Austria) has published an interesting brochure with lots of relevant information on this topic: Spendenbericht 2021[SB1E1]


Sources:
Inspiration:
https://www.hermoney.de/ihr-leben/spenden-weihnachten-soll-ich/
Poverty risk:
https://www.statistik.at/web_de/statistiken/menschen_und_gesellschaft/soziales/gender-statistik/armutsgefaehrdung/index.html
How wealthy am I – median income calculation and test:
https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000110760842/onlinerechner-wie-arm-oder-reich-sind-sie-im-oesterreich-vergleich
No money for donations:
https://reset.org/act/spenden-aber-richtig
Worn clothes most frequent donations, 43 per cent of donors say they can afford it, animals, children, disasters (p. 6), giving creates feelings of happiness (p. 7):
http://public-opinion.at/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Spendenbericht_2019_v10-WEB.pdf
https://www.psychologie.ch/geben-ist-seliger-denn-nehmen
https://www.elisabethstiftung.at/warum-spenden/
Inspiration and motivation for voluntary work (reasons for feelings of happiness)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehrenamt

[SB1E1]https://www.fundraising.at/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Spendenbericht-2021_Fundraising-Verband-Austria.pdf
Donations

What Dr. Dr. Money says

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

More Information
Unblock content Accept required service and unblock content

Subscribe to our newsletter*!

Stay up to date with our newsletter –
subscribe for new tour dates and important updates.
*only available in German
Register now

More about Geld & Gesellschaft

Foreign currency loan
Banken & Wirtschaft, Schulden

Foreign currency loan

A foreign currency loan is actually a speculative deal. The borrower hopes for interest and exchange rate advantages. But that is a risky bet.
Read now
How should I use my savings
Geld & Glück

How should I use my savings

Many young people already earn money regularly. However, this can raise the question: What do I do with my money anyway?
Read now
Account costs
Konto & Zahlung

Account costs

It’s easy to get a free account during your apprenticeship. Nevertheless, you have to be careful that you don’t end up having to pay for your account.
Read now
What does a bank do?
Banken & Wirtschaft

What does a bank do?

Money is saved, invested and spent. Banks occupy the central position in the money cycle.
Read now
What is Bitcoin?
Banken & Wirtschaft

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin: huge hype, almost everyone knows the name. But what exactly is virtual money and what functions does it perform?
Read now
How much do I really earn?
Ausbildung & Beruf

How much do I really earn?

Gross is not the same as net
Read now
Which insurance do i need?
Veranlagung & Vorsorge

Which insurance do i need?

If you have suffered damage, you should not be forced to bear the cost on top of it. This is what insurance companies are there for. However, you should check closely which insurance you’ll actually need.
Read now
Who sets prices?
Alles ums Geld

Who sets prices?

Why do things cost what they cost? Many articles are getting more expensive, but some may become cheaper too. Why is that so?
Read now

FLiP News abonnieren

Updates zu Ausstellung, Programm & Events

Subscribe to FLiP News

Updates on exhibition, program & events