Since 1997 Statistics Canada has been conducting comprehensive surveys asking Canadians a series of questions about how they volunteer their time and donate their money. Earlier this year the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (www.ccp.ca) released an 18-page report analyzing the role of religion on giving and volunteering. Here is an excerpt from its conclusion.

This report focuses on the role of religious commitment in the giving and volunteering habits of Canadians, using attendance at religious services as an indicator of commitment. Canadians who attend religious services weekly are older than other Canadians and more likely to be female.

We found that Canadians who attend religious services regularly tend to donate and volunteer at higher rates than other Canadians. In addition, on average they make larger donations and volunteer more hours than other donors and volunteers.

Canadians attending weekly also exhibit different patterns in terms of the organizations they support, their donating methods and volunteer activities, and their motivations for and barriers to giving and volunteering. Finally, compared to other Canadians, those who attend religious services weekly have higher rates of in-kind donations, directly helping others, and participating as members in voluntary organizations and community groups.

The National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating shows that almost all Canadians contribute to charitable and nonprofit organizations in some way. However, a small number of people who are highly active provide the bulk of support. According to the 2000 survey, fewer than one in 10 (nine per cent) Canadians are “core supporters” and provide 46 per cent of the total dollar value of all donations and 40 per cent of all volunteer hours.

Regular attendance at religious services is a distinguishing characteristic of this relatively small group of active Canadians.

Although religious commitment is intertwined with contributory behaviours such as giving and volunteering, there is evidence suggesting a gradual and long-term decline in religious activity in Canadians.

Nevertheless, it is essential for both fundraisers and volunteer managers to find ways to strengthen the ties between Canada’s charitable and nonprofit organizations and our religiously active citizens. Whether religious commitment will remain as intertwined with giving and volunteering is a matter for discussion.

You can find the complete report and lots of other interesting information on the internet at www.givingandvolunteering.com

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