According to a study by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), Russians are less likely to give alms. However, says the St. Petersburg edition of Fontanka, this is not due to stinginess or mental callousness, but to the fact that people are increasingly turning to other forms of charity.

On the one hand, the number of people who serve the poor is really getting smaller (24% versus 36% in 2007), on the other hand, the number of Russians who volunteer as volunteers in hospitals, shelters, hospices and other social and medical institutions is growing ( 9% versus 2% in 2009). The number of those who attends charity events (concerts, performances, etc.), all proceeds from which are donated to charity (10% versus 2% in 2009). One in five is engaged in deeds of charity on a regular basis; most of the people in this group are young people aged 18 to 24 and older Russians - from 35 to 44 years old.