An Investigation Into Repeat Requests for Charity: Evidence From the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, Australia

Abstract

In advanced industrialized economies, charitable organizations work alongside formal social services provided through welfare states to assist people living in poverty. The work of charities with socially and economically marginalized people, however, often takes place in the absence of robust evidence about what impact charity has on people’s lives. This study draws on a large administrative database to investigate what determines repeat requests for charity and how people may achieve dignity. Our findings show that frequent residential address changes seem to make people more reliant on charity, whereas the more time spent with people receiving charity significantly decreases repeat requests for charity. We propose that the provision of charity can be an opportunity to promote connectedness.