Red Cross reveals Australia’s most generous donors

Monday June 6 2022

Australian Red Cross has highlighted the extraordinary contributions of women and people in low-income areas in the ranks of its most generous donors.

Australian Red Cross State and Territory Operations Director Poppy Brown said a detailed analysis of Red Cross non-corporate donations data from 1 January 2019 – 30 April 2022 also showed women give more money and donate more often than men.

And people in low-income areas gave as much – as a percentage of their area’s median income – as those in wealthy areas and more than those in middle income areas.

“This has been the case throughout 2020 and 2021, despite women and people on lower incomes being disproportionally affected by the pandemic, the rising cost of living, and slow wage growth,” Ms Brown said.

“And this trend is only growing. In the first four months of 2022, a period marked by significant disasters, with unprecedented floods in Queensland and New South Wales and multiple international crises, women and those in low-income areas continue to show their generosity, already donating $21 million to Red Cross.

“The ACT features as the most generous of all the states and territories, with the highest number of donors and donations per capita, but it’s the South-East Queensland city of Toowoomba that stands out for its numbers of donors and donations, with 2,873 people giving a total of $1.135 million,” she said.

Ms Brown said Red Cross was grateful for support from every part of the community.

“Every donation makes a difference, supporting our work to help people in urgent need 365 days a year – which is why we’re asking people to make a tax-deductible donation as the financial year ends, so we can continue delivering vital services.

“Every single dollar from every single donor helps make a real difference, whether its children donating their pocket money, people giving $5 or $10 when they can, or people and corporates making large donations, including bequests. That support from so many means we can not only respond to disasters at home and overseas, but also support migrants and refugees, work with people who are homeless, and help older Australians overcome loneliness and isolation,” Ms Brown said.

To make a tax-deductible donation, head to redcross.org.au by June 30.

Key data: Australian Red Cross Giving Trends 01 January 2019 – 30 April 2022

1,038,644 donors gave $586.95 million to Australian Red Cross from 1 January 2019 – 30 April 2022 (includes corporate donors and donations).

WOMEN

183,940 women donated a total of $91.37 million compared to 129,539 men who donated a total of $88.96 million.**

In the first four months of 2022, 74,484 women have given $13.83 million compared to 55,948 men who have given $10.68 million.**

LOW-INCOME AREAS

People in low-income and high-income areas gave 0.13% of their area’s median incomes, while those in middle-income areas gave less, at 0.11%.

In 2021, people in low-income areas gave a higher percentage of their area’s median income, at 0.12%, compared to those in middle (0.10%), high (0.11%) and very wealthy (0.11%) areas.

In 2021, a total of 54,000 people in low-income areas donated a total of $13 million. This generosity continues in 2022, with 41,000 people in low-income areas donating a total of $8 million in the first four months of 2022.

STATE AND TERRITORY ANALYSIS

Per capita, ACT was the most generous state with donations amounting to $25.12 per person, followed by TAS ($15.59 per person), WA ($9.69 per person), NSW ($9.35 per person), SA ($8.77 per person), VIC ($8.46 per person), QLD ($7.93 per person), NT ($7.07 per person).

Per capita, more people in the ACT give to the Red Cross (5.14%) followed by WA (3.02%), VIC (2.98%), TAS (2.97%), NSW (2.41%), SA (2.27%), QLD (2.25%), NT (1.4%).

NSW had the highest total donations at $76.5 million, followed by VIC ($56.2 million), QLD ($41.5 million), WA ($26 million), SA ($15.5 million), ACT ($10.8 million), TAS ($8.4 million) and NT ($1.7 million)

VIC had the most Red Cross donors at 197,755 people, followed by NSW (197,195), QLD (117,726), WA (81,122), SA (40,140), ACT (22,095), TAS (16,014), and NT (3,613)

POSTCODES ANALYSIS

QLD postcode 4350 had the highest number of Red Cross donors (2,873) followed by VIC 3000 (2,786) ACT 2602 (2,006), NSW 2153 (1,743), WA 6163 (1,680), TAS 7250 (1,441), SA 5159 (900), NT 0810 (29)

QLD postcode 4350 had the highest donations total, at $1.135 million, followed by ACT 2602 ($1.130 million) NSW 2088 ($870,046), TAS 7250 ($659,467), VIC 3186 ($646,104), WA 6163 ($610,178), SA 5159 ($281,873), NT 0810 ($4,356).