Amount donated by British public falls for first time in five years

16 MARCH 2026

• The public donated £14bn last year, a near 10% drop year on year
• Six million fewer people give compared to ten years ago
• One in five people don’t give to charity because they cannot afford it

The total amount donated to charity by the British public has fallen for the first time in five years, with an estimated £1.4bn less donated last year, according to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

CAF’s UK Giving Report – the UK’s longest running survey for household giving – found that the public donated an estimated £14 billion last year, compared to £15.4 billion in 2024, a drop of almost 10%.

Over the past ten years, the number of people giving has been declining, from 69% in 2016 to 55% of people last year. According to the research, there are now approximately six million fewer people giving compared to 2016 – the equivalent of 600,000 fewer donors every year. As a result of this trend, the charity sector has missed out on an estimated £12.4 billion throughout the decade.

One in five (22%) people in the UK report they don’t donate to charity because they cannot afford it. It is common across all demographics and the main reason people don’t donate. Among those who didn't donate, 28% overall suggested they weren't interested in charities, rising to half (49%) of those who are higher and additional rate taxpayers.

For those who donate to charity, the majority are motivated by an emotional reason (78%), such as caring about the cause, and because they want to be part of something bigger (53%), such as supporting their community or making a difference.

Mark Greer, Managing Director of the Charities Aid Foundation says:

“Giving falling by nearly 10% in a year will be a significant concern for charities up and down the country who are providing vital services to people in need. We have been relying on a declining number of dedicated donors, but the reality of this trend has begun to bite.

“We know that when people are engaged with charities, they support them generously and for many they want to be part of something greater than themselves.

“To support our communities, we need a collaborative effort to revive the culture of giving across the country. This includes exploring ways we can encourage donations from those that can afford to give, and policy action from the Government to unlock greater giving.”