Charities Aid Foundation distributes record amount in support of charities

3 August 2023

Charities Aid Foundation distributes record amount in support of charities

£1.1 billion was donated to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) on behalf of individuals and businesses last year. The Trustees Report for 2022/23 highlights how CAF helped hundreds of thousands of charities to build their resilience in tough economic times.

For nearly a century, CAF has worked with individuals, businesses and government to increase giving and make a bigger difference. Last year, donations from private and corporate clients in the UK, US and Canada enabled CAF to distribute more than £1 billion for the first time, so charities could do more of their life-changing work where and when it matters most.

Giving and Impact Services in the UK distributed £520 million to charities, and CAF America granted out £490 million, up from £319 million the previous year. International donations were facilitated from the UK and North America to charities in 119 countries in 2022/23, including those meeting urgent humanitarian need around the world.

CAF Bank continued to provide specialist banking to help charities and social enterprises do more for their communities across the UK. CAF Bank increased lending by £44 million and has now committed £229 million in loans and advances to charities in 2022/23, increasing from £185 million the previous year.

Neil Heslop OBE, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation commented:

“Despite a challenging backdrop of entrenched financial pressure, what was achieved in the past year is uplifting. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our donors, and the dedication of our staff, we distributed £1 billion to charities for the first time.

It has been a difficult year for many of the organisations we exist to serve. In the UK, charities are stretched by the cost-of-living crisis, adjusting to stubbornly high inflation, while more people and communities than ever need their services. Overseas, charities have had to meet the significant humanitarian demands from the conflict in Ukraine, devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and flooding in Pakistan.

Last year, our organisation played a vital role in bringing donors together with charities. In the years ahead, we are determined to further grow our philanthropic impact to accelerate social progress towards a fair and sustainable future for all.”