GivingPulse

Dataset Specifications from GivingTuesday Data Commons

GivingPulse is a US-based weekly survey of approximately 100 respondents designed to investigate a broad range of giving behaviours and attitudes. Responses from these surveys provide a unique set of timely insights into the state of generosity through nearly real-time monitoring and analyses.

This unique survey-based study expands on prior GivingTuesday studies of American giving:

  1. To assess a wider range of acts of generosity, covering the giving of money, items, volunteering, and/or advocacy, whether it is for registered charities, non-profit organizations, and/or for individual people in need.
  2. To continuously track changes in these behaviors and attitudes as they shift due to world events, activities, triggers, and/or seasonality.

Data Origins

GivingPulse survey responses are collected via an online survey conducted by a third-party survey provider. Responses undergo an initial review from the survey provider and are cleaned of "speeders", inconsistent responses, and extreme results. GivingTuesday receives new data on a weekly basis. GivingPulse data and metrics have been used in a variety of GivingTuesday outputs, and the processing and transformation steps that are applied to the dataset are context-dependent. Data that is available on a restricted basis is in the format in which it is originally received from the survey provider.

Data Status

Collection Status: Active

Access Restrictions: Restricted

GivingPulse is an ongoing survey program. Data collection occurs weekly. Currently, a select few individuals (researchers, sector stakeholders) have access to the data for the purposes of reviewing the GivingPulse dashboard and data platform space and providing feedback to the team. We plan on making the data available via the GivingPulse dashboard through a registration and request process.

Data Tables and Fields

The actual dataset may include additional fields, which are either confidential or simply undocumented. Omit for private datasets. In general, only a brief description of ach column is required.

Column Type Description
sys_StartTime str Start date and time of survey response
pmid str Unique respondent ID.
PMxLANG str Language the survey was taken in.
qtaWeek str or float Week number, relative to the beginning of the survey. Takes format of either "Week{N}" or N.
state str State of residence. Takes the format "CA California" for all US states plus the District of Columbia.
age str Age group. One of '18 to 24 years', '25 to 29 years', '30 to 34 years', '35 to 49 years', '50 to 64 years', or '65 to 85 years'.
gender str Respondent gender. One of 'Female', 'Male', 'In another way', or 'Prefer not to answer'.
hGender str Respondent gender, normalized. One of 'Female' or 'Male'.
qtaRegion str Census region corresponding to state of residence. One of 'Northeast', 'Midwest', 'West', or 'South'.
qtaAge str Respondent age. One of 'age1824', 'age2534', 'age3549', 'age5064', or 'age6585'.
Q5_r1_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 1
Q5_r2_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 2
Q5_r3_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 3
Q5_r4_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 4
Q5_r5_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 5
Q5_r6_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 6
Q5_r7_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 7
Q5_r8_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 8
Q5_r9_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 9
Q5_r10_c1 str Thinking of big national charitable events, special giving days, and recognized giving movements (for money, giving items, and/or volunteering), which ones can you think of? Open text response 10
Q6A str Thinking of emergency situations requiring immediate help (e.g. natural disasters, sudden political crises, or sudden public health risks), are you aware of any new emergency needs in just the past 7 days, or not really? One of 'NO, not really in past 7 days', or 'YES, aware of a new recent disaster'.
Q6B str (If yes to Q6A) Please briefly mention which emergency or crisis this was? Open text response
Q6C_1 str or float (If yes to Q6A) Which best applies for this most recent emergency or crisis? One of 0 or "You have already responded with some act of generosity"
Q6C_2 str or float (If yes to Q6A) Which best applies for this most recent emergency or crisis? One of 0 or "You have not responded yet, but definitely intend to"
Q6C_3 str or float (If yes to Q6A) Which best applies for this most recent emergency or crisis? One of 0 or "You have not responded, and may or may not do so"
Q6C_4 str or float (If yes to Q6A) Which best applies for this most recent emergency or crisis? One of 0 or "You ignored it or decided not to help this time"
Q6C_5 str or float (If yes to Q6A) Which best applies for this most recent emergency or crisis? One of 0 or "You shared it with others to raise awareness"
Q7A str Within the past 7 days, have you heard or seen anything in the news, online, via work, or from word-of-mouth (among family, friends, or colleagues) about something negative or critical about any charitable organization, or negative about philanthropy, generally? One of 'I do not recall/don’t know', 'NO, not in the past 7 days', or 'YES, heard something negative about charity'
Q7B str Within the past 7 days, have you heard or seen anything in the news, online, via work, or from word-of-mouth (among family, friends, or colleagues) about something positive, supportive or encouraging about any charitable organization, or positive about philanthropy, generally? One of 'I do not recall/don’t know', 'NO, not in the past 7 days', or 'YES, heard something positive about charity'
Q8 str When were you, yourself, most recently solicited or asked (via online, email, SMS, face-to-face in-person, or via traditional mail) to make a donation of money, to give items, to volunteer, and/or to help others (excluding family members) even if you decided not to do so? One of 'Do not recall/not sure', 'NOT been asked within the past 12 months', 'Over 3 months ago, but within the past 12 months', 'Over 4 weeks ago, within 3 months', 'Over 1 week ago, within 4 weeks', or 'Within the past 7 days'
Q9_1 str or float (If solicited in past 7 days, per Q8) For this most recent solicitation, which best applies? One of 0 or 'You have already responded with some act of generosity'
Q9_2 str or float (If solicited in past 7 days, per Q8) For this most recent solicitation, which best applies? One of 0 or 'You have not responded yet, but definitely intend to'
Q9_3 str or float (If solicited in past 7 days, per Q8) For this most recent solicitation, which best applies? One of 0 or 'You have not responded, and may or may not do so'
Q9_4 str or float (If solicited in past 7 days, per Q8) For this most recent solicitation, which best applies? One of 0 or 'You ignored it or decided not to help this time'
Q9_5 str or float (If solicited in past 7 days, per Q8) For this most recent solicitation, which best applies? One of 0 or 'You passed it on to someone else'
Q11_r1 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Made a financial donation to a registered charity. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r2 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Gave money to some other organized or structured community group, association, or club which was not specifically a registered charity. This would include a local fund-raising activity for a club or association, a giving circle, a mutual aid network, a go-fund-me campaign (excluding for a charity), and other organized activities. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r3 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Gave money to someone (other than in your family) which is not part of any organized or structured fund-raising. This would include a gift of money to a person on the street, or an overly generous tip to a service person, or a small gift to help a struggling small local business, and other totally unstructured ad hoc giving. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r4 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Gave things other than money (such as food, clothing, personal care products, furniture or other personal property to a registered charity. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r5 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Gave things other than money (such as food, clothing, personal care products, furniture or other personal property) to help others via an organized and structured community group association or club which was not specifically a registered charity. This would include a collection for a local community, club, or association, an organized local community ‘pantry’ or depot, and other structured collections. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r6 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Gave things other than money (such as food, clothing, personal care products, furniture or other personal property) to someone other than in your family which is not part of any organized or structured collection initiative. This would include providing items to a person on the street, helping to supply items to elders or immigrants, and other gifts of items to help an individual or family in your neighborhood. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r7 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Volunteered your time to or served a registered charity. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r8 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Volunteered your time for some other organized and structured community group association or club which was not specifically a registered charity but was still an organized structured community organization. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r9 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Volunteered your time to help support someone other than a direct family member and are separate from any organized or structured organization. This may include supporting another family’s child, organizing sports or music for others, child-care without pay, elderly care, or other helpful activities which are totally unstructured and ad hoc. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r10 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Recommended, encouraged others, endorsed, “liked” or socially publicized an activity of a registered charity (which might include a fund-raising event, a charity walk, run, or ride, and so on). One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r11 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Recommended, encouraged others, endorsed, “liked” or socially publicized an activity as part of an organized and structured community group, association, or club which was not specifically a registered charity. This would include a local community or association activity, an organized local community ‘pantry’ or depot, fund-raising event for a club or association, a giving circle or mutual aid network, a collection drive, a go-fund-me campaign (excluding for a registered charity) and so on. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r12 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Recommended, encouraged others, endorsed, “liked” or socially publicized some ad hoc independent activity to help others (not including your family) to help them and which is not part of any organized or structured collection initiative. It was just a personal thing to help support some other individual initiative in an unstructured and ad hoc activity. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r13 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Donated blood or other body parts (as part of an organized collection service for health-care use). One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r14 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Made a financial contribution to a political party, any political advocacy organization, a politician, or for any other person running for an elected position in public service. One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r15 str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Have you been generous and helpful for others (other than your direct family members) in ways we did not ask about above? One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q11_r15_other str Which of the following have you, yourself, actually done in just the past 7 days? Have you been generous and helpful for others (other than your direct family members) in ways we did not ask about above? Please describe. Open text response.
Q12A float Within just the past 7 days, how many different charity, non-profit, organization, group, or persons (other than a family member) have you helped with any acts of generosity?
Q12B_1 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Animals/Animal Welfare"
Q12B_2 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Addiction support"
Q12B_3 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Addiction support"
Q12B_4 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Climate/Environment"
Q12B_5 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Education/Literacy"
Q12B_6 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Emergency relief/crisis or natural disaster"
Q12B_7 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Equality/Equity/Inclusion/Racism reduction"
Q12B_8 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Gender-based domestic violence"
Q12B_9 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Health services"
Q12B_10 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Human rights"
Q12B_11 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Immigration/Refugee support"
Q12B_12 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Medicine/Medical (research)"
Q12B_13 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Political/Politician/Public Policy"
Q12B_14 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Poverty relief (homeless, food, heat, shelter) in USA"
Q12B_15 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Poverty relief around the world/internationally"
Q12B_16 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Religious"
Q12B_17 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Senior care, advocacy, support"
Q12B_18 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Sport/Athleticism/Exercise"
Q12B_19 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "Ohter"
Q12B_20 str or float Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? One of 0 or "None of these"
Q12B_19_other str Within just the past 7 days, which of the following types of charitable causes have you supported or helped? If "Other", please desccribe (open text response)
Q13_1 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "I was originally asked or solicited to help"
Q13_2 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "I offered to help without any solicitation"
Q13_3 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "My decision to help was pre-planned in advance and considered over time"
Q13_4 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "I decided to help ‘in the moment’ (spontaneously)"
Q13_5 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "My decision to help included input from family and/or others"
Q13_6 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "This act of generosity was for a local community or neighborhood support"
Q13_7 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "This act of generosity was for beyond my local community, but within the USA."
Q13_8 str or float Please think of your most recent act of generosity: A financial donation, giving items, or volunteering that you did for a charity, a community group, a non-profit association, a club, or to help someone (not including family). And now please indicate which of the following apply for this most recent act of generosity. One of 0 or "This act of generosity was for international support beyond the borders of the USA."
Q13BA float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? To a registered charity
Q13BAxNone_1 str or float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? One of 0 or 'I have not given money to this type of recipient within just the past 7 days'.
Q13BB float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? To some other organized or structured community group, association, or club which was not specifically a registered charity
Q13BBxNone_1 str or float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? One of 0 or 'I have not given money to this type of recipient within just the past 7 days'.
Q13BC float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? To someone (other than in your family) which is not part of any organized or structured fund-raising.
Q13BCxNone_1 str or float You mentioned you have recently given money. How much money have you given to each of these three different types of recipients, if at all, in just the past 7 days? One of 0 or 'I have not given money to this type of recipient within just the past 7 days'.
Q14_r1 str For the money you have given in the past 7 days. Which of the following might apply? You are employed and have given to a charity, non-profit or community group automatically from your pay as administered by your employer? One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q14_r2 str For the money you have given in the past 7 days. Which of the following might apply? You have given to a charity, non-profit or community group by payments automatically deducted from your bank account or charged to a credit card each month? One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q14_r3 str For the money you have given in the past 7 days. Which of the following might apply? You started to support a charity, non-profit or community group which you had not supported before in the prior 5 years (i.e. It was a new choice for you)? One of 'Non No', or 'Oui Yes'
Q15_1 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "Online direct to a the nonprofit organization via their website or app"
Q15_2 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "Online indirectly via an intermediary platform raising funds specifically for nonprofits (such as GlobalGiving, CrowdRise, or similar)"
Q15_3 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "By text message on a mobile device"
Q15_4 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "By check"
Q15_5 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "In cash, at a live event (or in a religious service)"
Q15_6 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "In cash, directly to a person in need"
Q15_7 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "In a store, at the cashier"
Q15_8 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "Via a fundraiser collecting in person"
Q15_9 str or float Which methods of giving have you used in just the past 7 days? One of 0, or "Via an employer as a payroll deduction"

Sample Data

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