In 2025 the tenth anniversary of Law 110/2015 occurred which established in Italy – first country in the world – the day of the gift (set every year on 4 October). An opportunity to reflect on the trend of Italians to donate and to confirm the role of the Italian Institute of Donation, which in recent years has become a national reference point for the promotion of culture and donation practice. As part of the Institute, the gift observatory was born, made up of entities, experts and observers who, in voluntary form, carry out research, analysis and updates on donations, promoting the culture of the gift.
Every year the Observatory publishes a relationship that tells the three most common forms of donation: economic (money), volunteering (capacity and time) and biological (blood, organs, fabrics …), By registering the progress in relation to the political, social and economic context and at the same time, telling the transformations that our society lives.
The eighth edition of the “We donate” report records in 2024 of the recovery signals in donations: according to Istat data, the number of citizens over the age of 14 who claim to have paid money to an association at least once in the last 12 months has increased by 0.6 percentage points: 11.6% in comparison with 11% in 2023. In absolute values Istat are 6,021,000 donors in Italy. The tendency to donate increases with the rising of age and is closely linked to work stability: the greater concentration of donors is starting from 45 years onwards, with a peak between 65 and 74 years. As for the youngest bands of the population, the propensity to donate decreases with the lowering of age, as a result of the lower financial resources. As for the genre, women are generally more generous and willing to donate than men.
2024 also records a recovery of the percentage of people who carry out free activities in voluntary associations: Last year it went from 7.8% to 8.4%, with substantial growth. Between voluntary and non -voluntary associations, we are talking about almost 6 million volunteers, a number that is very close to that of the donors of economic resources.
The growth of biological donations also continues. In 2024, the blood donations and hemo -components were over 3 million, with an increase of 1.1% compared to 2023. A result obtained thanks to an audience of 1.67 million blood donors and blood components registered for the most part to the four main associations: Avis, Italian Red Cross, Fidas and Fratres. The National Transplant Center stressed that 2024 was also a year of record for the donation and fabric transplantation, as well as for organs.
The Italian region with the highest share of donors (22.6%) in relation to the totality of residents is Trentino Alto Adige. The Italian capital of the gift 2025 is Irpinia Sannio (province of Avellino): here the events of the day of the gift will be carried out in collaboration with Cesvolab – CSV Irpinia Sannio Ets from 3 until 24 October. The calendar foresees Guided tours, workshops and educational courses For students and families (2 October), the Awarding of the national contests #donaremidona schools with guests of the world of culture and entertainment, including Geronimo Stilton, performances and musical performances (3 October), the blood collection promoted by Fratres Campania (October 4) and, to conclude, one Great day of return and testimonies with the protagonists of the gift (October 24). The information on #donoday2025 is available on www.giorodelono.org – www.istitutoitalianoNodonazione.it – https://blog.iodonosicuro.it/ – https://cesvolab.it/
