Giving Trends in 2025 according to CAF’s Annual Giving Report 2025
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is a charity that works with corporate and individual donors to ensure their giving is impactful and also provides strategic support to help charities. To download the full report and its recommendations please click here. CAF’s Annual Giving Report 2025
Fewer people are giving to charity. Donations and sponsorship are at their lowest levels with London being one of the areas most affected. This downward trajectory could be linked with restrictions to public events during the pandemic. The number of young donors aged 16-24 has dropped by a third.
More detail can be found in pages 6-7 of the report
5.6 million people volunteered in the UK. Although a high number this represents a decline since 2023 with women dropping out of the volunteer force at twice the rate as men. Women and those aged 65+ were most likely to have done something charitable or engaged with civil society
More detail can be found in page 8 of the report
Popular causes. Health charities and charities working with children and young people received the most donations.
More detail can be found in pages 12-13 of the report
The public donated £15.4 billion in 2024. The average amount donated has increased with the top 5 methods of donating being 1) Direct Debit/Standing Order, 2) Charity’s own website or app, 3) Buying goods, 4) Membership Fees/Subscriptions, 5) Fundraising website or app. Both Crowdfunding and Fundraising events, e.g. a fun run came 5th and 6th respectively, which are two remerging fundraising methods, which we will touch on in later posts.
More detail can be found in pages 9-10 of the report
Reasons for donating. Across all causes the top 4 reasons for donating were prompted by a friend family member or colleague, by direct debit, a personal experience, experience of/or in memory of a loved one. Most people are happy to contribute to the core costs of a charity except the salary of the Chief Executive. Londoners are the most likely to respond to a charity appeal and provide the widest support for local campaigns.
More detail can be found in pages 15-16 of the report
Other donation trends. Most people are in favour of Gift Aid, however a quarter of young donors have never heard of it.
More detail can be found in page 21 of the report
Our three featured funders of the week are
The Albert Hunt Trust
Provides small to medium sized grants to UK registered charities that:
- Provide Hospice Care
- Provide support for the Homeless
- Promote Health and Well-Being
Please visit the website for more information
Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust
Provides small grants to UK registered charities under the following themes
- Music and arts education and participation
- Deafness and other disabilities
- The elderly
- Medical relief including hospice support
Please visit the website for more information
Postcode Society Trust
Provides small to medium sized grants to not-for-profit organisations with an income of £1,000,000 or less under the following themes
- Enabling participation in physical activity
- Enabling participation in the arts
- Improving biodiversity and responding to the climate emergency
- Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
- Providing support to improve mental health
- Supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality
Please visit the website for more information
Whilst we make every effort to ensure the information is correct, we advise you to check details on funders websites yourself
Does this reflect giving in Lewisham? Please tell us what you think and how you have adapted. Please tell us what you think by completing the short survey below.
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