Against a backdrop of a continued financial pressures and economic uncertainty the British public still donated an estimated £15.4 billion last year to support charities in the UK and around the world according to the Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) annual UK Giving Report. However, this total alongside the number of people donating, volunteering or sponsoring someone for charity has fallen to the lowest levels recorded since CAF began this research in 2016.

Charities are now relying on donations from only half (50%) of people who said they donated money in the previous 12 months. This has declined from 58% in 2019 - equivalent to around 4 million fewer donors. Additionally, only a fifth (21%) of people said they sponsored someone for charity in the last year, declining from 32% in 2019. This equates to around 6 million fewer people sponsoring someone for charity in the last five years.

The downward trend is evident across all age groups but is especially pronounced among young people. More than a third (36%) of 16-24-year-olds say they donated or sponsored in the past 12 months, compared to 52% in 2019.

Furthermore, the research also reveals a significant reduction in the number of people volunteering for charity. One in 10 (10%) people said they volunteered for a charity in 2024. This is equivalent to around 5.6 million adults, falling from the estimated 7.1 million recorded the previous year.

Furthermore, the research also reveals a significant reduction in the number of people volunteering for charity. One in 10 (10%) people said they volunteered for a charity in 2024. This is equivalent to around 5.6 million adults, falling from the estimated 7.1 million recorded the previous year.

Whilst we know first hand from our nationwide community the challenges that exist in fundraising, we are not seeing a decline in donations. Across the last 12 months, we have seen an increase in donation levels, and those signing to support charities, CICs and community groups with direct debits.

Andrei Yusfin, Localgiving CEO: “The CAF report is always a fascinating read, and an important source of data and insight for the UK fundraising community. Everyday we talk to our members and understand acutely the varied challenges that they face. But we have reasons to be optimistic, as we have in the past year seen in our community an increase in donation levels bucking the general trend of decline as identified by CAF.

“We believe that in times of financial hardship, it’s the smaller, local groups, those that deliver visible and immediate results, that are best placed to retain financial support. Whereas some of those who are larger, and perhaps deliver less clear solutions, are those for which the public find easier to lower their levels of support. Our network community of over 4000 organisations, are firmly embedded in their local areas, and we are proud to help support them retain and grow their donation levels even through challenging times."

Speaking at the launch of the report, Neil Heslop OBE, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation: “The act of giving builds connection between people and places, brings us together and helps us to understand each other more - which has never been more essential. The very significant amount donated by the public to charities and good causes last year reflects everyday generosity, in every place, in the UK. But this research starkly demonstrates that we need to do much more to build our culture of giving. We are relying on an ever-smaller group of people to give while the challenging economic environment continues to place significant strain on charities. 

Heslop added: “To renew our culture of giving across the UK, the Government should deliver a national strategy for philanthropy and charitable giving, to support charities to deliver their life-changing work. Revitalising our culture of giving will help to build a more connected, more generous and more resilient society for all of us in the future.” 

CAF’s UK Giving Report also explores how much is given to each cause, with health charities such as hospices and medical research receiving the most, an estimated £2.22bn from the public. The most popular way to donate to charity is through direct debit or standing order, which is used by an average of 47% of people donating or sponsoring in any given month – around 8.2 million people. However, cash remains the second most popular method for donations. More than a third (36%) of donors used cash to donate or sponsor in any given month– equating to around 6.4 million people. 

Read the full CAF UK Giving Report by clicking here.

Learn more about Why Direct Debits are key to ensuring financial growth for your charity.