The spirit and generosity of Canadians will be on full display this year with the vast majority (86%) reporting that they will engage in some sort of charitable activity during the holiday season, according to a study by BMO Harris Private Banking.
The study also revealed how Canadians intend to support various charitable causes during the months of November and December:
Go deeper with GlobalData
Access deeper industry intelligence
Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.
- Fifty-two per cent have or will be donating money.
- Forty-nine per cent have or will be donating canned goods or a food basket.
- Forty-seven per cent have or will be donating clothing.
- Twenty-three per cent have or will be volunteering.
Marvi Ricker, vice president and managing director, Philanthropic Services, BMO Harris Private Banking, said: "It’s heartwarming to see that so many Canadians appreciate the importance of supporting charities, especially during the holiday season. The holidays can be a tough time for some, so it’s great to see that Canadians are responding so generously."
Patrick Cronin, managing director, BMO Capital Markets and BMO Employee Giving Campaign co-chair, said: "Everyone has a role to play in supporting those in need in our society, and this includes Corporate Canada. It’s critical that companies of all sizes foster an atmosphere that encourages employees to give back to the communities where they live and work. It’s everyone’s responsibility."
The 2013 BMO Employee Giving Campaign is underway across North America and is off to a solid start. Last year more than 35,000 BMO employees made a donation to the campaign and raised over US$13 million. The bank partners with United Way/Centraide, whose mission aligns with many of the principles BMO supports: fairness, equity and evening the odds.
Canadians and Giving in 2013
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe study also explored what percentage of Canadians donated to various charitable causes in 2013, the average amount they gave and the sectors they supported. The study found:
Seventy-seven per cent donated to a charitable cause in the past 12 months (down slightly from 79% in 2012).
The average amount donated was US$580 (up from US$557 in 2012).
The most popular causes Canadians supported in 2013 included:
- Health and medical (63%)
- Anti-poverty (41%)
- Religious (23%)
- Animal welfare (21%)
- Foreign aid (13%)
Ricker added: "Many Canadians have competing financial priorities and often find that they’re not in a position to donate as much as they’d like to their preferred charitable causes. However, it’s important to remember that there are other ways to give, whether it is donating unused household items such as gently used clothes, toys and furniture or donating your time by volunteering at a soup kitchen or the local animal shelter."
