Young adults in the United States are increasingly donating to international issues and relief efforts, but their charitable choices may not always be the most useful for communities in need, a survey conducted by the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) finds.

According to the survey, 36 percent of all respondents gave to aid groups in 2022, a steady increase since 2018, when 32 percent of respondents reported making gifts. According to CIDI, this is driven by an increase in young adults (ages 18-24) donating in recent years.

While the increase is helpful, the survey found that not everyone donating follows best practices for donating to international issues. For example, 46 percent of respondents said they believe material goods are the most effective gifts and 51 percent believe relief organizations prefer material donations. But a majority of humanitarian organizations prefer monetary donations—such as cash, credit card, or online direct donations—which enable them to directly purchase what is needed on the ground, while also helping to stimulate the local economy. 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/SDI Productions)