Some studies have indicated that lower income groups often donate a higher percentage of their earnings when compared to their wealthier counterparts. Experts have noted that individuals with lower incomes often have strong religious affiliations, and therefore tend to give more.
A recent analysis on giving in the Netherlands, however, indicates that this "negative effect of income" on giving cannot be explained by the stronger religious involvement found in lower income groups.
Pamela Wiepking, who studied the data, suggests that there exists a “giving standard” that guides charitable donations. The giving standard may lead different donors to give similar amounts that are not proportional to their incomes. Wiepking notes that 80% of households in the Netherlands generally give between €5 and €25 for direct mail appeals, and a majority donated €25 to support victims of the Tsunami in 2004.
Wiepking explains, “If people with a higher income understand how miserly their gifts compare to the donations of people with lower incomes, it is possible that they are prepared to donate more substantial amounts.”
Learn more about Wiepking’s study in “The Philanthropic Poor: In Search of Explanations for the Relative Generosity of Lower Income Households.” Voluntas, vol. 18 (December 2007): p. 339-58.
Search our Catalog of Nonprofit Literature for other articles from Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations.
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