Charities not connected to floods or cyclones are not likely to be abandoned by their regular donors, according to a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) philanthropy expert.
Dr Wendy Scaife, from QUT's Australian Centre of Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies, said while non-welfare charities often worried about losing donations in times of national or international crises, like the Queensland floods, the Victorian bushfires and the Asian tsunami, past research showed that many supporters continued to remain loyal to their chosen causes and did not overlook them.
Dr Scaife said the unknown factor in this equation might be the proposed flood levy to rebuild roads and bridges. However, she believed past patterns suggested people would continue to support other community needs wherever they could.
She said research had shown that people went out of their way to donate to major events, but realised their favourite charity still needed them, and that although giving was affected by all kinds of crises, it generally bounced back within six months.
As an example, total giving in the US has increased almost every year for nearly 50 years, despite wars, disasters, and other crises. Similarly, in Australia post-tsunami giving to other causes was high, according to Dr Scaife.
"People did not show fatigue with giving: they showed greater awareness of the need to look after their community," she said.
"The perennial argument that comes out in the charity world every time there is a natural disaster is the doom and gloom talk that people might donate all they have to that disaster and stop donating to their regular charity for a while," Dr Scaife said.
"Charities for causes like medical research, giving for disabilities or the arts - not the traditional welfare charities - naturally may be concerned about this.
"What you often find is that although some people may temporarily not be able to stretch their budget to be as generous to their favourite charity when also donating to a natural disaster fund, other loyal donors will realise this deficit and give more to keep that charity's work going at full pace.
"People who are supporting a particular charity do so year in, year out. They get to know and love it so when a community disaster happens, they try to pitch in there but also keep up their regular donations."
Dr Scaife said charities that might start to receive less government, corporate or philanthropic foundation funding due to a tighter economy could often rely on supporters.
"In tough economic times, some sources may not be as generous - for example, corporate support may be reduced as that purse might be tighter and of course some businesses have been flood affected directly or indirectly," she said.
"These are valid concerns, but history in Australia and elsewhere would suggest when people appeal to supporters, saying to them how the need that charity fills is just the same, they will come through.
"People think big companies are where all the dollars come from and while their support is wonderful, it is far outweighed in most countries by individual giving.
"Loyal supporters are like family and they are a powerful force in our community for disaster relief and for so many other causes.
"Now is when they are really needed. Now is the time to sign up as a monthly giver to a favourite charity and give that little extra to a stretched community if possible."
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
or Sharon Thompson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1150 or sharon.thompson@qut.edu.au
**Dr Scaife is available for interview today between 1.00pm and 4.00pm
