Charities Aid Foundation marks 100 years with record distributions to support local and global causes

 4 September 2024

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) distributed £1.132 billion on behalf of individuals and businesses in its last financial year, increasing by £108 million compared to the previous year. The Trustees Report for 2023/24 highlights how these funds helped hundreds of thousands of charities in every part of the UK and around the world.

The Charities Aid Foundation marks its centenary this year after being created in 1924 as part of the National Council of Social Service, now the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), to encourage giving to charities, before operating as an independent charity since 1974.

Over the last 100 years, CAF has worked with individuals, businesses and government to increase giving and make a bigger difference. Throughout this time, CAF has been instrumental in innovations that have helped to unlock generosity, including the introduction of Gift Aid and Payroll Giving, and pioneering social investment.

Last year, private and corporate clients in the UK, US and Canada entrusted more than £1.155 billion to CAF to help charities to become more resilient and do more of their life-changing work where and when it matters most.

The report also outlines how CAF Bank provides specialist banking to help charities and social enterprises do more for their communities across the UK. The bank advanced £36.2 million in loans to help charities and social purpose organisations improve their sustainability and grow.

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

“In our centenary year, we have again distributed a record sum to charities and non-profits the world over.  To say this is much needed is an understatement as charities continue to face severe challenges. They are the glue that holds our society together and it is a tribute to the trust people place in them that they turn to them during times of need.

“CAF was founded by the sector, for the sector. Our organisation has always been about bringing people and organisations together. We will strive to continue this in the years ahead, to grow giving and make sure that together, we give more.”

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