Survey Reveals Older Americans Give More Generously Than Other Americans

Press release (Dec. 15, 2011) — Older Americans give to charities and other important causes more generously than most other Americans, according to a survey released today by Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. The 2011 Chase Generational Giving Survey found that 63 percent of Americans age 55+ donated $101 or more to charity in 2011, compared to less than half (47 percent) of those below the age of 55. Not only are older Americans ready and willing to help, they are already helping in a significant way: more than one-third of older Americans donated more than $500 to charity in 2011.
How are older Americans giving back? The Generational Giving Survey shows that while nearly three in 10 (29 percent) Americans age 55+ volunteer on a regular basis, almost two-thirds (64 percent) of them give money to charity. In 2012, older Americans plan to continue to be more likely to donate their money or time to charity than the general population (52 to 45 percent).

This mindset is one of the reasons why Chase also announced today that cardholders can make double the difference in helping older Americans in need by using their AARP Visa Card from Chase. Chase already offers an easy and automatic way for older Americans to make a difference beyond the holidays. Chase has been donating $0.03 for each purchase made with the AARP Visa Card and $1 for each new account opened to AARP Foundation for Drive to End Hunger, a national initiative to end hunger among older Americans.

Through its Double the Difference campaign, Chase will double the amount of money donated to AARP Foundation for Drive to End Hunger throughout the month of December. Chase will donate $0.06 for each purchase made with the AARP Visa Card and $2 for each new account opened from Dec. 1-31. Chase has agreed to donate up to $2 million to AARP Foundation in 2011 and 2012 through this campaign.

"In this very moment, there are more than nine million Americans over the age of 50 who do not have enough to eat. This is a tremendous problem and solving it is important to Chase during the holidays and all year long," said Ralph Pinto, senior director, Chase Card Services. "We're encouraged that the research shows older Americans are ready and more than willing to give back to those in need. The AARP Visa Card gives cardmembers a way to give back easily and automatically to help older Americans facing the serious issue of hunger," concluded Pinto.

Age is just a number: Older Americans are feeling younger

The Generational Giving Survey also found that older Americans feel younger than they really are. While 50 years old may not be the new 30, a majority (61 percent) of those in their fifties feel they are younger than their age. When it comes to feeling younger:

Family ties

When asked what they are most grateful for in their lives, eight in 10 older Americans said they are most grateful for their friends and family, directly comparable to the general population. When asked what advice they would give to someone in a younger generation, a plurality of both older Americans (40 percent) and adults younger than 55 (41 percent) would advise younger Americans to spend more free time with family and friends.

Family matters also topped the list for older Americans' 'bucket list,' with 'meeting a grandchild' (17 percent) outpacing travel to a specific location (15 percent) and retiring to a warmer climate (11 percent).

For more information about the 2011 Chase Generational Giving Survey and giving back through the Chase program, visit www.aarpcreditcard.com and click on Help End Hunger.