The Netherlands’ biggest charities appear to be largely immune from the economic crisis, with donations rising an average 4% last year, according to research by the Volkskrant.

In total, donations reached €743m in 2011. The cancer research charity KWF Kankerbestrijding was the biggest beneficiary. Its income rose 22% to €125m, partly due to a fundraising campaign based on endurance cycling in the French Alps, the paper said.
WarChild, CliniClowns and the Red Cross were also major gainers. Two Christian charities – Woord en Daad and Kerk in actie – earned less from donations last year, the paper said.
‘Charitable giving is much more sustainable than people think,’ professor of philanthropy Theo Schuyt told the Volkskrant. ‘But it is at times of bad news that people need to feel involved and to have hope. So they keep giving money.’
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