Welcome to the Charities Aid Foundation

We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work.

Personal giving From one-off donations to long-term giving, or designing your personal philanthropic strategy, we work together to help you realise your giving ambitions. Corporate giving You have the vision for making a difference. So do we. We help you plan how to give based on your goals. Services for charities Helping your charity or social enterprise become more resilient. Insights Discover the latest insights for donors and charitable organisations to help create a greater impact About us We are a leading charity, working at the centre of the giving world. We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work. Donate

Personal giving

From one-off donations to long-term giving, or designing your personal philanthropic strategy, we work together to help you realise your giving ambitions.

DISCOVER OUR PERSONAL GIVING SOLUTIONS

Find a charity and donate

Search our database of over 160,000 charities and donate to the organisation that mean the most to you.

Donate now

Discover effective ways to give

We match our strategic, insight led approach with your giving ambitions, so you give in the way you want, to the causes you want, at the right time for you.

DISCOVER OUR PERSONAL GIVING SOLUTIONS

Get a giving account Give through a Charitable Trust Make a large, one-off gift Give through your payroll Give as a dual US/UK taxpayer Leave a legacy gift

Maximise your impact

From strategic advice to grantmaking and social investment, we can work together to drive meaningful change.

Explore our impact accelerator

Get strategic advice Provide social investment

Services for professional advisers

We offer seamless support and expertise to strengthen your own. A trusted philanthropy partner to help your clients make a measurable difference to the causes they care about.

LEARN MORE

Resources for effective giving

Expert content to help inspire and inform your giving

EXPLORE OUR PERSONAL GIVING RESOURCES

Corporate giving

You have the vision for making a difference. So do we. We help you plan how to give based on your goals.

DISCOVER OUR CORPORATE GIVING SOLUTIONS

Discover effective ways to give

We combine our in-depth sector expertise, governance support, and tax-efficient giving solutions to help your company (and your employees) make meaningful change.

EXPLORE OUR CORPORATE GIVING SOLUTIONS

Get a company giving account Set up payroll giving Set up a corporate foundation Inspire workplace fundraising

Maximise your impact

From strategic advice to grantmaking and social investment, we can work together to drive meaningful change beyond corporate charitable giving.

EXPLORE OUR IMPACT ACCELERATOR

Get strategic advice Create a grant programme Provide social investment

Resources for effective giving

Resources to help inspire and inform your corporate giving.

EXPLORE OUR CORPORATE GIVING RESOURCES

Services for charities

Helping your charity or social enterprise become more resilient.

DISCOVER HOW WE SUPPORT CHARITIES

Funding for charities

As a charity, we understand the financial challenges you face. We’re here to help strengthen the long-term resilience of your charity or social enterprise.

EXPLORE OUR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Fundraise online Manage your CAF donations Apply for an unsecured loan Apply for secured loan Prepare a grant application

Charity banking and investments

Through our subsidiaries CAF Bank and CAF Financial Solutions Limited (CFSL), we work with you to find the best place for your money.

EXPLORE OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES

Current account Savings accounts Secured loans Investments

Strategic consultancy

We've been working with charities for over 100 years. So, we know that if your charity is going to have real impact you need the right support and strategy in place.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARITY ADVISORY

Resources for charities

Expert resources to help navigate rising costs and build your charity’s resilience.

EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES FOR CHARITIES

Insights

Discover the latest insights for donors and charitable organisations to help create a greater impact

Explore

Research

Discover insight into donor behaviour, key issues affecting charities and responses to significant UK events.

Explore

Blog

News and opinions from the experts in charitable giving and the sector

Explore

About us

We are a leading charity, working at the centre of the giving world. We help donors to give more impactfully and charities to build their resilience so they can do more of their life-changing work.

Find out more about CAF

100 years of CAF

From a £1,000 legacy to distributing over £1 billion to charities annually.

FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY

Governance and policies

As a registered charity (number 268369) we operate in a specific way. Learn more about how we are run with essential information on leadership and governance.

Learn more

Annual reports Our trustees and executives Legal and regulatory information Standards and conduct policy Sustainability commitment

Press office

View our latest press releases or contact us for commentary on philanthropy, corporate giving and issues facing the charity sector.

Find out more

Press releases Spokespeople

Public affairs and policy

We use our expertise in philanthropy and charitable giving to amplify the charity sector’s voice and needs, working with government, policy makers and regulators to bring about change.

EXPLORE OUR POLICY WORK

Partner with us

The CAF Network is a group of locally led, independent organisations from across the world. Our partners work at the forefront of philanthropy. They offer local expertise on pressing causes, and offer expertise on donating into their countries

Find out more

Careers

At the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), we don’t just talk about impact, we actively shape it. Find a rewarding and meaningful career at CAF, where together, we give more.

View our vacancies

Home Personal giving Discover effective ways to give Give through a Charitable Trust

PERSONAL GIVING

Charitable Trust

Our donor advised fund offers the benefits of setting up a private charitable foundation, without the hassle or expense.

The straightforward way to bring your giving ambitions to life

The CAF Charitable Trust is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), a giving account which operates under CAF’s registered charity status, and is a simple, flexible and cost-effective way to give. It offers the advantages of your own charitable foundation, but without the extra time commitment needed or associated costs.

Your CAF Charitable Trust allows you to donate in a tax-efficient way, increase the value through investments over time and ultimately request distributions to support charitable projects and organisations both in the UK and overseas.

By working with us, you can rely on the expertise and experience of philanthropic professionals who can provide any guidance you need with your giving. We also take on all the risk, reporting, accounting and regulatory responsibilities associated with your Trust, leaving you free to focus on what really matters to you.

With our Charitable Trust you can:

Make tax-effective gifts in multiple ways

Gift cash, shares, investments, salary contributions, and other non-cash gifts like property into your Charitable Trust. You’ll benefit from income, capital gains or inheritance tax relief, and Gift Aid, depending on the gift you choose, and your eligibility.

Grow your donation to make it go further

Choose from a broad range of eligible investments options including our ethical funds to get the opportunity to grow the value of your account. We also offer discretionary portfolio management for high-value Trusts.

Grant at a time that suits your goals

Make donations anonymously or not, on a grant-by-grant basis. Give to organisations around the world and make repayable contributions to our social investment fund. However you want to give, our flexible service can help you do it.

Manage your Trust online

Request grants, investments or review activity and performance, online. You can also add up to six approved donors to your account and as many signatories as you need.

Benefit from our expertise

Whether it’s impact or logistics you need help with, we have the expertise to help. We’ll work with you to find the best giving strategy, cause areas and grantmaking opportunities to fit your needs and interests and our dedicated in-house team are specialists in everything from handling gifts of complex non-cash assets, to international grantmaking and impact evaluation.

Broaden your giving options

We carry out detailed due diligence on organisations to ensure they’re eligible to receive UK charitable funds, allowing you to give safely and securely to a wide range of organisations, including overseas charities and non-profits in the UK, such as community investment companies.

Talk to us about a Charitable Trust

Get in touch with one of our Private Client Managers to discuss whether a Charitable Trust is the right option for you.

How our Charitable Trust works

You can give:

Cash in major currencies –US Dollars, Euros or Pounds Sterling
Through our offshore banking if you need it – contribute through our Jersey-based account if you are a non-domiciled UK resident
With flexibility – on request, we can consider gifts of alternative assets, such as private equity or property
Through third-party gifts – from pre-approved, connected third parties, such as businesses and private trusts

We make your gift do more for the causes you support by offering a range of investment opportunities and interest to grow your donation.

We offer:

Broad choice, through a range of eligible investments for your Trust assets
Ethical options including a selection of ethical funds to grow the value of your Trust
Discretionary portfolio management if you have a high-value Trust
Interest rates for funds held in cash

Investment options

When the time comes, we can support your charitable purpose safely and securely. Make a request through your online account or contact our team, and we’ll start to put your impact in action.

Granting includes:

Making anonymous grants if you prefer
A simple way to request grants to UK registered charities
A safe way to make grants overseas, thanks to our due diligence checks
The flexibility to support eligible UK organisations who aren’t charities, such as community interest companies
The option to make social investments through our market-leading social investment fund

How tax works on the Charitable Trust

You can claim Income tax relief on applicable cash gifts – and we’ll claim Gift Aid on cash gifts too, settling these within the account as soon as we receive them.

You can also claim Capital Gains and Income tax relief on applicable non-cash gifts.

And because all gifts are irrevocable to CAF, that makes them exempt from inheritance tax. So, gifts can play a vital role in your tax planning.

Cash donation calculator

Enter donation amount

Tax income rate

We top your donation with additional Gift Aid, which is 25p for every £1

Gift Aid claimed £ -

Total donation to charity £ -

You claim back from HMRC £ -

Cost of donation to you £ -

Talk to us about a Charitable Trust

Get in touch with one of our Private Client Managers to discuss whether a Charitable Trust is the right option for you.

Why choose CAF

We know philanthropy

Philanthropy is personal. Wherever you are on your philanthropic journey, our bespoke advice is tailored to your needs and expectations.

UK’s leading donor advised fund

We make up over half the UK market, ranked by gifts in and grants out.

160,000 charities

We work with over 160,000 charities to find, access, and grow the funds needed to do more of the great work they do.

£420 million

We distributed over £420 million on behalf of our donors using our donor advised funds in the financial year 2022/23.

Award-winning

We’ve won numerous awards including the 2023 Spears Private Client Service Award and the 2024 WealthBreifing Wealth For Good Awards for Not-for Profit Initiative.

Safe and secure

Our robust charity verification and due diligence processes mean your donations reach their intended causes safely and securely.

Find more information and documentation on CAF Charitable Trusts, such as Terms and Conditions, Schedule of Charges and a Guide to Investment Options, below.

View our supporting documents

STRATEGIC GIVING FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT

How 'consumer champion' Martin Lewis uses his Charitable Trust to give with purpose and grow his fund through investments.

READ MARTIN'S STORY

Our team

Edward Garrett

Head of Private Clients

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Sima Patel

Senior Private Client Manager (Growth Lead)

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Amy Cunningham

Senior Private Client Manager (Service Lead)

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Adriana Lowe

Senior Private Client Manager (Engagement Lead)

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See all

Personal giving case study

Investing philanthropic capital in the power of reproductive choice

One CAF client, a family foundation, was drawn to MSI Reproductive Choice’s work, and the impact its programmes are having on the lives of the world’s poorest and most marginalised women and girls.

Private client September 04, 2024

Personal giving case study

Securing long-term protection for a valuable habitat

Using their Charitable Trust, Mark and Julie Mills ensure a precious habitat is protected from development, allowing the vulnerable and endangered species to thrive.

Private client June 20, 2024

Personal giving