The Puzzling Relationship Between Generosity and Civil Society in Mexico Michael D. Layton, Ph.D. Philanthropy and Civil Society Project Book Launch and.

The Puzzling Relationship Between Generosity and Civil Society in Mexico

Michael D. Layton, Ph.D. Philanthropy and Civil Society Project

Book Launch and Seminar:Philanthropy and Civil Society in Mexico and

Among Mexicans in New York

Baruch CollegeSchool of Public Affairs

April 7, 2011

Philanthropy and Civil Society Project

•How do Mexicans express their generosity?

•How can Mexican generosity be channeled into the strenghtening of

organized civil society?

Introduction

II. The Puzzle: A Generous People…

Percentage of the Economically Active Population engaged in the non-profit sector

8

54

0.4

United States

World Average

Argentina Mexico

II. The Puzzle:…but an underdeveloped nonprofit sector

Source: Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project.

II. The Puzzle: Why doesn’t generosity lead to a strong civil society?

Motivation

Preparation

Execution

III. Solving the Puzzle: National Survey on Philanthropy and Civil

Society (ENAFI)

The results of the ENAFI help us solve

the puzzle

IV. The Results: How do Mexicans express their generosity?

Care for them while ill

Helped with household chores

Helped them for work/school

Gave them money

Lent them money

Gave them emotional support

Gave them clothes or donations in kind

Gave them advice

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

22

23

24

25

41

42

43

51

Have you helped a friend, a neighbour or an acquantaince in the past 12 months? If so, how?

Percentage of respondents who said "yes"

Source: ENAFI 2008

No

Yes

Does not know/ Did not answer

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

74

19

6

During the last 12 months did you volunteer for any type of group or or-ganization?

Number of respondents

Source: ENAFI 2008

Source: ENAFI 2008

No

Yes

Does not know/Did not answer

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

77

22

1

Were you personally asked to do volunteer work in the past 12 months?

Number of Respondents

Source: ENAFI 2008

Lack of time

Have not been asked

Does not know how or when to do so

Would rather spend that time on other activities

Distrust of volunteer work, or of the organizations that do it

Health issues

Does not like working without pay/free

Do not think your help would be useful

Would rather donate money

Transport issues

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

31

14

11

10

9

7

5

4

3

What are the reasons you do NOT do volunteer work?

Number of respondents

6

Periodical salary/wage deductions

Cheques

Internet

Periodical debit/credit card charges

ATM-facilitated donations

Food, clothing, or canned goods donations

Kettle campaigns/ Giving pocket money in the street

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

2

3

3

5

9

31

47

In the past 12 months have you contributed via:

Percentage of respondents

Source: ENAFI 2008

Source: ENAFI 2008

Alms during Church

Church (missions, campaigns, etc)

Health-related organizations

Educational/School-based

Natural disaster relief groups

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

47

17

13

12.9679144385027

4

5

9

4

6.8181818181818

16

In the las 12 months, have you made a donation to any of the following or-ganizations?

Money In KindPercentage of respondents that answered "yes"

Source: ENAFI 2008

Alms during Church

Health-related organizations

Organizations dedicated to helping the elderly, people of low-income, etc.

Neighbourhood groups

Other religious organizations

Church (missions, campaigns, etc)

Youth groups or Clubs/Sports-based

Ecological/Animal protection

Cultural or artistic associations

Humanitarian organizations

Educational/School-based

Natural disaster relief groups

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

90

71

70

63

62

60

57

57

55

54

53

40

10

29

30

37

38

40

43

43

45

46

47

60

Thinking of your altest donations, approximately how much did you give to each of the following?

Up to $50 pesos More than $50 pesos

Percentage of respondents

Source: ENAFI 2008

No Yes Does not know/Did not answer0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

70

28

2

In the past 12 months, have you been asked for any type of donation in cash or in kind?

Num

ber

of r

espo

nden

ts

Source: ENAFI 2008

Would rather do volunteer work

Government should be in charge of social issues

No one has asked

Not in them to give money

People are selfish

Difficult with the current financial crisis

Distrustful of institutions that ask for donations

Distrustful of institutions that ask for donations

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

4

5

9

10

11

12

13

16

What do you think are the main reasons why people do not donate?

Percentage of respondents (each up to 3 reasons)

17%

60%

16%

7%

Directly through institutions or organizations

Directly through someone in need

Without preference

Does not know/Did not answer

Source: ENAFI 2008

Directly to a need person (60%)

Monthly income (pesos) Other

DK/NA

It is easy Out of charity, pity o

rsolidarity

Trust that the money will be

well usedBecause I don’t

trust organizationsDK/NA 2% 16% 30% 42% 10%

Up to $1,300 3% 18% 24% 40% 15%$1,301-$3,900 4% 22% 33% 31% 11%$3,901-$6,500 3% 25% 27% 32% 13%$6,501-$13,000 2% 22% 26% 29% 21%$13,001 and above 2% 7% 31% 26% 33%Over-all averge 3% 18% 28% 33% 17%

Why do you prefer to give directly to the needy?

To Institutions (16%)

Monthly income (pesos)

DK/NAGreater impact

Trust that the organización will make good use

Tax deductability People keep

asking but nothing changes

DK/NA 0% 9% 77% 9% 6%Up to $1,300 0% 16% 68% 11% 5%$1,301-$3,900 3% 19% 47% 7% 18%$3,901-$6,500 1% 18% 69% 2% 8%$6,501-$13,000 2% 19% 60% 0% 14%$13,001 and above 0% 14% 59% 5% 23%Over-all averge 1% 16% 63% 5% 12%

Why do you prefer to give directly to institutions?

Source: ENAFI 2008

Political Parties

Unions or Labour Organizations

The Mexican Congress

The Ministry of Finance/ Treasury

Judges / Supreme Court of Justice

Big Private Buisnesses

Social or Non-Governmental Organizations

The Police

Municipal Government

Banks

State Government

The Federal Government

Department stores

Neighborhood groups

The Media

The Army

Mexican Red Cross

The Church

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

21

26

32

33

34

35

35

38

39

40

41

42

44

49

53

62

76

76

How trustful are you of the following?Total answers for "very" and "somewhat"

• Mexicans give to those who ask for it: and currently they do not feel that philanthropic organizations have invited them to participate.

• Generosity is a direct reflection of a person’s sense of trust and belonging, especially in Mexico.

• Generosity a la mexicana takes place, not through institutions but rather through more informal channels.

How do Mexicans express their generosity?

The results of the ENAFI help us solve the puzzle:

Informal channels -- not institutions.

Generosity, but not the nonprofit sector

IV. The Results: How do Mexicans express their generosity?

Mexican People Nonprofit Organizations

Lack of Trust

Low participation: time, talent,

treasure

Accountability and

Transparency

Initiatives to promote

participation

Don´t understand the actions of the

sector

Visibility

V. The true puzzle: How we promote the development of generosity towards growing the

Mexican Third Sector

• Institutions, not informality.• Demonstrated impact, not pity.• Social investment, not alms.

V. The true puzzle: How can Mexican generosity strengthen civil society?

Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.Director of the Philanthropy and Civil Society Project

[email protected]://www.enafi.itam.mx

http://www.filantropia.itam.mxtwitter.com/MDLayton

THANK YOU!