Survey: Most Thais Demand Charity Transparency Before Donating
A nationwide survey by the Phra Pok Klao Institute reveals that 57% of Thais believe foundations should immediately disclose spending records when questioned about donations, while 74% still consider charitable foundations necessary for society. The poll of 2,000 adults also found that verifiable aid outcomes, financial transparency, and leadership credibility are the top factors driving public trust, with regional differences in priorities.
On November 13, 2026, the Phra Pok Klao Institute published findings from a survey titled "Confidence in Foundation Operations and Transparency in Donation Usage." The poll, conducted November 6-9 among 2,000 Thais aged 18 and older across all regions, yielded several key insights.
First, when asked what foundations should do first when questioned about donations, 57.3% said they should disclose expenditure records and relevant documents, 19.6% favored independent auditors, 8.8% wanted donor inquiry channels, 8.2% suggested temporarily halting donations, 4.2% said involved executives should step aside, and 1.9% were unsure. Over half demanded open data for verification, reflecting a desire for evidence-based, traceable answers; trust hinges on clarity about how money is spent and who can verify the explanations.
Second, nearly three in four respondents (74.0%) viewed foundations that help the public as "quite necessary" or "very necessary" for Thai society, while 20.8% saw them as unnecessary and 5.2% were unsure. This shows foundations are still accepted as a social safety net, but perceived necessity does not equal unconditional trust; the value of their role and their credibility must be maintained together.
Third, verifiable outcomes topped the factors building confidence: 34.7% cited demonstrable aid results, 26.2% pointed to transparent income and expenditure reporting, 24.4% emphasized management credibility, 8.0% valued external audits, and 6.7% were unsure. Regionally, the Central (40.8%), Eastern (40.3%), Northern (36.0%), and Northeastern (35.2%) regions prioritized verifiable aid outcomes, Bangkok (31.2%) favored financial transparency, and the South (51.6%) weighted management credibility highest. Confidence thus links to tangible results, financial clarity, and leadership accountability, with regional variations.
Fourth, over half want to know "who the money helps and what it does" before donating: 54.1% said they need to know the beneficiaries and activities, 17.1% wanted past project outcomes, 13.8% sought audited financial reports, 7.5% wanted the ratio of aid spending to overhead, 2.9% required no extra information, and 4.6% were unsure.
