Giving, Volunteering & Participating

2004 CANADA SURVEY OF Giving, Volunteering & Participating The Giving and Volunteering of Immigrants David Lasby Paul Bakker Findings from the Cana...
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2004 CANADA SURVEY OF

Giving, Volunteering & Participating

The Giving and Volunteering of Immigrants David Lasby Paul Bakker

Findings from the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating

givingandvolunteering.ca

THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

INTRODUCTION The Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering, and Participating (CSGVP) examines the many ways in which Canadians aged 15 and over support nonprofit and charitable organizations and one another. This report uses data from the 2004 CSGVP to explore the contributions of time and money immigrants make to charitable and nonprofit organizations. It also explores how their contributions change with the length of time they reside in Canada. The information in this report is intended to provide insight into the giving and volunteering patterns of immigrants and to help charitable and nonprofit organizations better engage this unique population of Canadians. For the purposes of this report, immigrants are defined as those Canadians who said that they were, or had been at some point in the past, landed immigrants to Canada. Much of the analysis in this report groups immigrants according to when they arrived in Canada (e.g., ‘more established immigrants’ for those who arrived in Canada prior to 1984 and ‘more recent immigrants’ for those who arrived in 1984 or later). Some presentations divide immigrants into four equally sized groups according to how long they have lived in Canada. Certain patterns of giving and volunteering appear to be related to respondents’ immigration status as well as other personal and economic characteristics. For example, immigrants who have been in Canada for long periods tend to be older, and age appears to be associated with certain giving and volunteer behaviours. It is not possible in this report to determine which patterns are specifically related to a respondent’s immigration status and which are related to other personal and economic characteristics. MAJOR FINDINGS: CHARITABLE GIVING •

Immigrants are just as likely as native-born Canadians to make a donation but tend to give more on average.



On average, immigrants make fewer donations over the course of a year but give more per donation.



Compared to native-born Canadians, recent immigrants are highly involved with religion: they allocate a higher percentage of their total donations to Religious organizations, give more through places of worship, and are more motivated by religious concerns. Even recent immigrants who are not highly involved with religion tend to give more of their donations to Religious organizations.



Among non-donors, immigrants are more likely than native-born Canadians to cite all the different barriers to giving.



The giving patterns of more established immigrants are closer to those of native-born Canadians than to those of more recent immigrants.

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CHARITABLE GIVING Immigrants are as likely as native-born Canadians to make financial donations but tend to contribute more. Virtually identical percentages of immigrants (85%) and native-born Canadians (86%) donated, but immigrant donors contributed an average of $462 annually compared to $388 for Canadian-born donors. Figure 1: Donor rate and average annual donation, native-born Canadians and immigrants by period of immigration, 2004 100%

94% $644

89%

77%

$520

75%

$700

86%

84%

$525 $395

50%

$388 $350

$278

25%

$175

0%

$0 Before 1967 1967 to 1983 1984 to 1994 After 1994 Canadian-born Immigrants by Period of Immigration

Donation Rate

Average Annual Donation

The likelihood that immigrants will donate and the average amounts they give increase with the length of time they have resided in Canada. Those who immigrated to Canada most recently (after 1994) were least likely to donate (77% donated) while those who were most established (having immigrated before 1967) were most likely to give (94%) (see Figure 1). Similarly, those who immigrated most recently made the smallest average donation ($278 annually) while those who had been in Canada the longest gave the most ($644). Only those who immigrated most recently were appreciably less likely to give and gave less than native-born Canadians. These trends and many others pertaining to charitable giving are likely related, at least in part, to the fact that immigrants who have been in Canada longer tend to be older and that older individuals are more likely to donate and to donate larger amounts.1 Individual Donations Most Canadians make more than one donation over the course of a year. Immigrant donors differ from Canadian-born donors in that they make fewer donations but give more per donation. On average, immigrants made 3.9 donations during the course of the year, 1 For more detail on the giving and volunteering patterns of older Canadians, please see The Giving and Volunteering of Seniors, available at www.givingandvolunteering.ca.

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Figure 2: Average number and value of individual donations, Canadian-born and immigrant donors by period of immigration, 2004 6.0 5.1

$140

$127

$119

$119

4.4

4.5

$102

4.4 $88

3.3 2.7

3.0

$105 $70

1.5

$35

0

$0 Before 1967 1967 to 1983 1984 to 1994 After 1994 Canadian-born Immigrants by Period of Immigration

Average Number of Individual Donations Average Individual Donation Value

compared to 4.4 for Canadian-born donors and gave $119 per donation, compared to $88 for Canadian-born donors (see Figure 2). Immigrants who have resided in Canada for longer periods tend to make more and larger donations. For example, those who immigrated most recently (after 1994) made an average of 2.7 individual donations of $102 each, while those who immigrated before 1967 averaged 5.1 donations of $127 each. In comparison to Canadian-born donors, immigrants who arrived after 1983 made fewer donations on average. The organizations immigrant donors support Broadly speaking, immigrant and Canadian-born donors are most likely to donate to the same three types of organization – Health, Religion and Social Services – although immigrants generally do not support these organizations to the same extent. For example, immigrants were less likely to donate to Health organizations (48% vs. 60% of Canadianborn donors), Sports and Recreation organizations (15% vs. 20%), and Hospitals (14% vs. 19%) (see Figure 3). Conversely, they were more likely to give to Religious organizations (44% vs. 38% of Canadian-born donors) and slightly more likely to give to International Development and Relief organizations (9% vs. 7%). In terms of the amounts donated to each organization type, immigrant donors tended to give as much as or more than Canadian-born donors. For example, immigrants gave markedly more to Religious (an average $456 vs. $380 for Canadian-born donors), Law, Advocacy & Politics ($75E vs. $66), and Health ($86E vs. $81) organizations (see Figure 4). However, they gave less to Sports and Recreation ($32E vs. $49 for Canadian-born donors), Grantmaking, Fundraising and Voluntarism ($140 vs. $156), and Education and Research organizations ($54 vs. $56).

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Figure 3: Donor rate by selected organization types, immigrant and Canadian-born donors, 2004 48%

Health

44% 38% 43% 45%

Religion Social Services

60%

19% 22% 15% Sports & Recreation 20% Average Amount Donated by Immigrants and those Canadian-born to Each Organization Type 14% Hospitals ImmigrantCanadian-born Donors Donors 19% Health $86Fundraising $81 & Voluntarism 13% Grantmaking, 14% Religion $456 $380 9% International Social Services $91 $78 7% 7% Hospitals $103 $90 Environment 8% Education & Research $54 $56 7% Law, Advocacy & Politics 6% Sports & Recreation $32 $49 4% Environment F $102 Arts & Culture 3% Education & Research

International $192 $193 0% 15% 30% 45% 60% Grantmaking, $140 Fundraising & Voluntarism $156 Law, Advocacy $75 & Politics $66 Canadian-born Arts & Culture F $208 Immigrants Other $88 $191 Development & $136 Housing $98 Figure 4: Average amounts donated to selected organization types, immigrant and CanadianUniversities & $291 Colleges $254 born donors, 2004 Business / Professional $101 $152 Associations & Unions $86E $81

Health Religion Social Services Hospitals Education & Research Sports & Recreation Environment

F

$91 $78 $103 $90E $54 $56 $32 E $49

Grantmaking, Fundraising & Voluntarism Law, Advocacy & Politics

Use with caution. F Sample size too small to use. E

F $0

$456

$102

International

Arts & Culture

$380

E

$75 E $66

$192 $193 $140 $156

$208 E $125

Immigrant Donors

$250

$375

$500

Canadian-born Donors

Immigrant and Canadian-born donors were also similar in how they allocated the total value of their donations among the various types of organizations they supported. However, immigrants allocated somewhat more of the value of their donations to Religious organizations (50% vs. 43% for Canadian-born donors) (see Figure 5). Conversely, they allocated lower percentages to Health organizations (10% vs. 15%).

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Business / Professional Associations 0% 0% & Unions Other 1% 2%

THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

Figure 5: Distribution of total donation value to selected organization types, immigrant and Canadian-born donors, 2004 10%

Health

15%

Religion 10% E 10%

Social Services

Sports & Recreation Hospitals Grantmaking, Fundraising & Voluntarism International

F

2% 1% E 1%

Law, Advocacy & Politics Arts & Culture

F 0%

Use with caution. F Sample size too small to use. E

50%

3% 4% 1%E 3% 4% 5% 5% 7% 5% 4%

Education & Research

Environment

43%

E

2%

13% Immigrants

25%

38%

50%

Canadian-born

Recent immigrants (those who immigrated since 1984) tend to allocate their donations somewhat differently than more established immigrants, whose giving behaviours more closely resemble those of Canadian-born donors. The more recent immigrants gave a larger percentage of their donations to Religious organizations (62% vs. 45% for the more established immigrants), and gave less to Health (7% vs. 12%), Social Services (8% vs. 11%), Arts and Culture (1% vs. 6%), and Environment organizations (2% vs. 5%). How immigrants make donations Immigrant donors are less likely than Canadian-born donors to respond to some of the more common solicitation methods. For instance, immigrants were less likely than Canadian-born donors to donate by sponsoring someone in an event (29% of immigrants donated this way vs. 37% of Canadian-born donors), responding to door-to-door canvassing (28% vs. 36%), or giving in memory of someone (19% vs. 25%) (see Figure 6). However, immigrants were more likely than Canadian-born donors to donate by responding to a mail request (32% vs. 26%) or by giving at a place of worship (39% vs. 35%). Although immigrant donors are markedly less likely than Canadian-born donors to repond to many solicitation methods, they gave roughly the same percentage of their total donations through each method as did Canadian-born donors. The only significant difference was that they gave somewhat more through places of worship (43% vs. 39% Canadian-born donors) (see Figure 7). The giving behaviour of the more established immigrants (those who immigrated before 1984) resembles that of Canadian-born donors, while the more recent immigrants (those GIVINGANDVOLUNTEERING.CA

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Figure 6: Percentage of donors responding to selected solicitation methods, immigrant and Canadian-born donors, 2004 39% Place of worship 35% 32% Mail request 26% 30% At shopping centre or on street 32% 29% Sponsoring someone 37% 28% Door-to-door canvassing 36% Allocation of Value of Donations 21%and those Canadian-born At work Given by Various Methods - Immigrants 26% Immigrants Canadian-born 20% Charity event 24% Place of worship 43% 39% 19% Mail request In memoriam 16% 14% 25% At shopping centre or street 1% 8% 1% Approached onon own 8% Sponsoring someone 3% 8% 3% Telephone request Door-to-door canvassing 2% 8% 3% 5% At workTV or radio request 4% 9%6%

Charity event 10% 8% 4% 10% 6% In memoriam 0% 20% 30% 40% Approached on own 7% 9% Telephone request 2% Immigrants 2% Canadian-born TV or radio request 2% 2% Other 6% 6% Stocks or stock options 0% 1% Figure 7: Total donation value by selected solicitation methods, immigrant and Canadian-born

donors, 2004 Place of worship 16% 14%

Mail request

Sponsoring someone Door-to-door canvassing At work

10% 8%

Charity event

4% 6% 7%E 9% 2% 2% 2% E 2%

In memoriam Approached on own Telephone request TV or radio request 0% Use with caution.

E

43%

1% 1% 3% 3% 2% 3% 4% 6%

At shopping centre or on street

E

39%

Immigrants

13%

25%

38%

50%

Canadian-born

who immigrated in 1985 or later) display different behaviours. For example, the more recent immigrants gave a larger percentage of the total value of their donations through places of worship (51% vs. 37% for the more established immigrants) and gave a smaller percentage of the total value of their donations after approaching organizations on their own initiative (5% vs. 9%).

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

Why immigrants give Immigrant and Canadian-born donors are equally likely to cite almost all motivations for donating. However, immigrants were somewhat more likely to say that they gave to fulfill religious obligations or beliefs (44% of immigrant donors vs. 29% of Canadian-born donors) and slightly more likely to say that they wanted to make a contribution to their community (83% vs. 78%) (see Figure 8). Conversely, immigrants were markedly less likely to say that they gave because they or someone close to them was personally affected by the organization’s cause (48% vs. 66%). Figure 8: Reasons for making financial donations, immigrant and Canadian-born donors, 2004 91% 89% 85% 87% 83% 78%

Feel compassion towards people in need To help a cause in which personally believes To make a contribution to the community 48%

Personally affected by the cause the organization supports To fulfill religious obligations or beliefs

29% 21% 20%

Income tax credit 0% Immigrant donors

25%

66%

44%

50%

75%

100%

Canadian-born donors

The more recent immigrants (those who immigrated since 1984) were significantly different from more established immigrants in their motivations for donating. More recent immigrants were less likely to donate because they were personally affected by the organization’s cause (41% vs. 55% of more established immigrant donors). Conversely, they were more likely to donate because of religious obligations or beliefs (47% vs. 41% of established immigrant donors) and in order to make a contribution to their community (86% vs. 81%). The barriers to giving faced by immigrants The CSGVP asked donors whether any of nine possible barriers had prevented them from giving more. Immigrant and Canadian-born donors tended to assign the same relative importance to the various barriers. However, there are some differences between the two groups. For example, immigrant donors were more likely than Canadian-born donors to say that they did not donate more because they did not think the money would be used efficiently (36% of immigrants vs. 29% of Canadian-born donors), because they found it hard to find a cause worth supporting (14% vs. 8%), or because they could not afford to give more (76% vs. 71%) (see Figure 9). Conversely, immigrants were less likely to say they did not give more because they were happy with what they already gave (60% vs. 65%).

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

The more recent immigrants differ from established immigrants in that they were more likely to say they did not give more because they could not afford to do so (82% vs. 71% of more established immigrant donors). Figure 9: Reasons for not making more financial donations, immigrant and Canadian-born donors, 2004 76% 71%

Could not afford to give more

60% 65%

Happy with what was already given 39% 37% 36% 34% 36% 29% 31% 32% 25% 22% 14% 10% 14% 8%

Gave money directly to people, not through an organization Did not like way in which requests were made Did not think money would be used efficiently Gave voluntary time instead of money No one asked Did not know where to make contribution Hard find a cause worth supporting 0% Immigrant Donors

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20%

40%

60%

Canadian-born Donors

8

80%

THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

MAJOR FINDINGS: VOLUNTEERING •

Immigrants are less likely to volunteer, but those who do volunteer tend to contribute as many hours as Canadian-born volunteers.



Compared to native-born Canadians, immigrants volunteer more for Religious organizations and less for Sport and Recreation organizations. Immigrants are also less likely to coach, referee, or officiate.



Compared to Canadian-born volunteers, immigrant volunteers are more likely to be motivated by religious concerns and less likely to be motivated by being personally affected by the organization’s cause.



Of those who did not volunteer, immigrants were less likely to say that it was because they were not interested in volunteering.

VOLUNTEERING Immigrants are less likely than native-born Canadians to volunteer (41% of immigrants volunteered, compared to 48% of native-born Canadians). However, those who do volunteer contribute the same average number of hours annually (165 for immigrants vs. 166 for Canadian-born volunteers). Contrary to the situation with charitable donations, there is no simple relationship between immigrants’ likelihood of volunteering and the average hours they contribute on the one hand and the length of time they have been in Canada on the other hand. The likelihood of volunteering does not increase consistently with length of residency in Canada. Instead, Figure 10: Volunteer rate and average annual volunteer hours, Canadian-born and immigrant volunteers by period of immigration, 2004 60%

300 242

45%

50%

48%

41% 162

225

40%

36%

153

30%

166 150

107 15%

75

0%

0 Before 1967 1967 to 1983 1984 to 1994 After 1994 Canadian-born Immigrants by Period of Immigration

Volunteer Rate

GIVINGANDVOLUNTEERING.CA

Average Volunteer Hours

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

those who immigrated between 1967 and 1983 were most likely to volunteer (50% volunteered), while those who arrived in Canada between 1984 and 1994 were least likely to volunteer (36% volunteered) (see Figure 10). Those who arrived since 1995 are more likely to volunteer than those who arrived between 1984 and 1994 (40% of vs. 36%). Generally speaking, the average number of hours volunteered annually tends to increase with the length of time immigrant volunteers have been in Canada (e.g., those who immigrated to Canada prior to 1967 volunteered an average of 242 hours annually, compared to 107 for those who immigrated between 1984 and 1994). An exception to this pattern is volunteers who arrived since 1995, who contributed an average of 153 hours annually. In large part the complexity of the relationship between volunteering and period of immigration reflects personal and economic characteristics other than immigration status. For example, those who have been in Canada the longest tend to be older, and older Canadians are less likely than others to volunteer but tend to contribute more hours when they do volunteer. The organizations immigrant volunteers support Immigrant volunteers are less likely than Canadian-born volunteers to volunteer for most types of charitable and nonprofit organizations. For example, immigrants were about half as likely to volunteer for Sports and Recreation organizations (7% vs. 13% of Canadian-born volunteers) (see Figure 11). They were also noticeably less likely to volunteer for Social Services (9% vs. 13%), Education and Research (10% vs. 13%), and Health (5% vs. 7%) Figure 11: Volunteer rate by selected organization types, immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers, 2004 Religion

10% 10%

Education & Research 9%

Social Services 7%

Sports & Recreation 5%

Health 4%

Development & Housing

13% 13% 13%

7%

5%

3% 3% 3% 3%

Law, Advocacy & Politics Arts & Culture Environment

2%

Hospitals

2% 0% Immigrants

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12%

3% 3% 5%

10%

15%

Canadian-born

10

Sports & Recreation 102 120 Health 65 48 Development &114 Housing 87 Law, Advocacy 105 & Politics 108 Arts & Culture 136 103 Environment 87 THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF I90 MMIGRANTS Hospitals 97 85 50 36 Philanthropy, Grantmaking & Voluntarism organizations. Conversely, immigrants were more likely to volunteer for Religious Business / Professional 57 Associations 91 & Unions organizations (12% vs. 10% of Canadian-born volunteers). Universities & Colleges 82 83 International 69 72 Figure 12: Average hours volunteered by selected organization types, immigrant and Other 41 49 Canadian-born volunteers, 2004 Allocation of Volunteer Hours Across Organization Types, Immigrants & Canadian-born

Immigrants Canadian-born Religion 22% Religion 15% Education & Research 11% 12% Education &17% Research 17% Social Services Sports & Recreation 10% Social Services 20% Health 5% 4% Sports & Recreation Development & Housing 7% 6% Law, Advocacy &6% Politics 4% Health 48 Arts & Culture 6% 4% Development & Housing Environment 2% 4% Law, Advocacy 3% & Politics Hospitals 3% 1% 1% Philanthropy,Arts Grantmaking & Voluntarism & Culture Business / Professional 2% Associations 2% & Unions Universities & Environment Colleges 2% 2% International 1% 1% Hospitals Other 1% 1% 0 E

20

40

129

69 74 109 102

125 120

65E 114E

87

105 E 108 136E

103 87 E 90 97E

85

60

Immigrant Volunteers

Use with caution.

120

80

100

120

140

Canadian-born Volunteers

Figure 13: Distribution of annual volunteer hours by selected organization types, immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers, 2004

Religion 11% 12%

Education & Research

17% 17%

Social Services 10%

Sports & Recreation 5%E 4% 7%E 6% 6%E 4% 6%E 4%

Health Development & Housing Law, Advocacy & Politics Arts & Culture

Hospitals 0% Use with caution.

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20%

2%E 4% 3%E 3%

Environment

E

22%

15%

10% Immigrants

20%

30%

Canadian-born

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

In terms of the hours volunteered, immigrant volunteers tend to contribute about as many or more hours than do Canadian-born volunteers for almost all types of organizations. For instance, immigrant volunteers contributed more hours, on average, to Social Services (125 hours vs. 109 hours for Canadian-born volunteers), Religious (129 vs. 120), Arts and Culture (136E vs. 103), and Health (65E vs. 48) organizations, and Hospitals (97E vs. 85) (see Figure 12). Sports and Recreation organizations were a major exception (immigrants contributed an average of 102 hours annually vs. 120 hours for Canadian-born volunteers). Immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers are similar in how they allocate their volunteer hours to most organization types. However, there are some important differences. For example, immigrants allocated more of their time to Religious organizations (22% of total volunteer hours vs. 15% for Canadian-born volunteers) (see Figure 13). Conversely, they allocated less of their time to Sports and Recreation organizations (10% vs. 20%). Although immigrants were less likely than Canadian-born volunteers to volunteer for Social Services, Education and Research, and Health organizations, they allocated roughly the same percentages of their total volunteer hours to these organizations. What immigrant volunteers do With few exceptions, immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers are equally likely to engage in most volunteer activities. However, immigrant volunteers were somewhat less likely to engage in coaching, refereeing, or officiating (13% vs. 20% of Canadian-born volunteers), fundraising (42% vs. 47%), and maintenance and repair (15% vs. 19%) (see Figure 14). Figure 14: Percentages of volunteers involved in different volunteer activities, immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers, 2004 45% 48% 42% 47%

Organizing or supervising events Fundraising

34% 37% 31% 31% 27% 26% 25% 25% 24% 25% 19% 20% 18% 19% 15% 19% 14% 15% 13% 20% 13% 16% 11% 10%

Sitting on a committee or board Teaching, educating or mentoring Counselling or providing advice Office work Collecting, serving or delivering food Driving Providing health care or support Maintenance or repair Canvassing Coaching, refereeing or officiating Conservation or environmental protection Unspecified activities

5% 7%

First-aid, fire fighting, or search and rescue 0% Immigrant Volunteers GIVINGANDVOLUNTEERING.CA

10%

20%

30%

40%

Canadian-born Volunteers

12

50%

THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

They were slightly less likely to organize or supervise events (45% vs. 48%), sit on a board or committee (34% vs. 37%), or engage in conservation or environmental protection (13% vs. 16%). The more established immigrants were more likely than the more recent immigrants to volunteer by performing maintenance and repairs (19% vs. 10%) and sit on a board or committee (40% vs. 27%). How immigrant volunteers become involved The CSGVP asks volunteers how they became involved with the organization to which they contributed most of their hours. Immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers show quite similar Figure 15: Methods of initial involvement with primary organization, immigrant and Canadianborn volunteers, Canada, 2004 100% 6% 10%

6% 10%

31%

31%

47%

44%

Immigrants

Canadian-born

75%

50%

25%

0%

Approached organization ones self Asked by friend/relative outside the organization

Asked by someone in the organization Asked by someone else

patterns of becoming involved. About half of both groups became involved after approaching the organization on their own initiative (47% of immigrants and 44% of Canadian-born volunteers), about one third (31% of each group) were asked to become involved by someone in the organization, and one in ten (10% for each group) were asked by a friend or relative who was not already involved with the organization (see Figure 15). Immigrants and Canadian-born volunteers differed only in that immigrant volunteers were slightly more likely to become involved after approaching the organization on their own initiative (47% of immigrant volunteers vs. 44% Canadian-born volunteers). How the more recent immigrant volunteers tended to become involved differed from the experience of the more established immigrants, who are much more similar to Canadianborn volunteers). The more recent immigrant volunteers were more likely to have approached an organization on their own (55% vs. 41% of more establish immigrant volunteers) and less likely to be have been asked by someone in the organization (26% vs. 35% of more establish immigrant volunteers). GIVINGANDVOLUNTEERING.CA

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

Why immigrants volunteer Immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers are roughly equally likely to cite most motivations for volunteering. However, there are a few noticeable differences. For instance, immigrants were more likely to say they volunteered to fulfill religious obligations (33% vs. 20% of Canadian-born volunteers) and slightly more likely to say they wanted to explore their strengths (52% vs. 48%) (see Figure 16). Conversely, they were less likely to say that they volunteered because they or someone close to them was personally affected by the cause the organization supports (53% vs. 62%). Figure 16: Reasons for volunteering, immigrant and Canadian-born volunteers, 2004 93% 92%

To make a contribution to the community

75% 77%

To use skills and experiences

53% 62% 52% 48% 49% 47% 41% 44% 33% 20% 21% 22%

Personally affected by the cause of the organization To explore one's own strengths To network with or meet people Friends volunteer To fulfill religious obligations or beliefs To improve job opportunities 0% Immigrant Volunteers

25% 50% 75% 100%

Canadian-born Volunteers

The more recent immigrants (those who arrived since 1984) were more likely than the more established immigrants to cite a number of motivations for volunteering. They were more likely to say that they volunteered in order to improve their job opportunities (35% vs. 9% of established immigrant volunteers); to explore their strengths (62% vs. 42%); to network with or meet other people (54% vs. 46%); and because their friends volunteered (45% vs. 39%). The barriers to volunteering faced by immigrants The CSGVP asked non-volunteers whether any of ten possible barriers had prevented them from volunteering. Immigrant and Canadian-born non-volunteers were equally likely to cite the most common barriers, but there were some noticeable differences in their responses to many of the less common barriers. For example, immigrants were more likely to say that they did not know how to become involved (28% vs. 21% of Canadian-born non-volunteers) or that the financial cost of volunteering was a barrier (20% vs. 14%) (see Figure 17). Conversely, they were less likely to say that they had no interest in volunteering (17% vs. 25%).

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THE GIVING AND VOLUNTEERING OF IMMIGRANTS

Figure 17: Reasons for not volunteering at all, immigrant and Canadian-born non-volunteers, 2004 68% 68% 59% 59%

Did not have the time Unable to make a longer-term commitment

49% 51% 42% 41%

Gave money instead of time No one asked 28% 21% 24% 26% 20% 14% 17% 25% 16% 14% 8% 6%

Did not know how to become invovled Health problems or physically unable Financial costs of volunteering Had no interest Gave enough time already Dissatisfied with a previous experience 0% Immigrant Non-volunteers

15%

30%

45%

60%

75%

Canadian-born Non-volunteers

The more established immigrants (those who arrived before 1984) were more likely than recent immigrants to say they did not volunteer because of health issues (38% vs. 17% of recent immigrants) or because they preferred to donate money instead of volunteering (53% vs. 46%). Conversely, the more recent immigrants (those who have arrived since 1984) were more likely than established immigrants to say that they did not volunteer because they did not have time to (73% vs. 57%) or because they did not know how to become involved (37% vs. 17%).

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Acknowledgements This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program. The opinions and interpretations in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. Cover photo courtesy of Imagine Canada member Yee Hong Centre. About Imagine Canada Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization whose cause is Canada’s charities and nonprofits. We reinforce the sector’s collective voice, act as a forum and meeting place and create an environment in which organizations contribute to building stronger communities.

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For more information about Imagine Canada please visit www.imaginecanada.ca For more information on the 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating please visit www.givingandvolunteering.ca

©2010, Imagine Canada This report is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Canada License. Please contact the copyright holder if you would like permission to use these resources in a manner which is not covered under the current license.

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