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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.
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Laura Yonish
Client Experience Lead
Have you ever wondered what happens after you donate? Here’s the reality: your support is helping charities weather their toughest period in decades.
If you have ever donated to a local food bank, sponsored a marathon run, or volunteered your time, you have been part of the very thing that keeps our communities alive and supports those who need it most. But right now, that social fabric is under real strain.
Our UK Charity Insights Report 2025 — which gathers perspectives from over 500 charity leaders — reveals that:
As one leader shared,
“Charities are struggling due to the external environment. There is more competition for grant funding. The cost of living is impacting charities and there are many redundancies within the charity sector.”
UK charities are doing more with less than ever before.
Yet, optimism persists: three-quarters remain positive about their own organisations, showing resilience rooted in purpose and community spirit.
It shows that when we all pull together, we have the power to grow the support that keeps these vital organisations going.
Behind every charity’s mission are deeply committed team members who are experts in their field. However, as the cost of living crisis continues to affect daily life, our research shows that 72% of charity leaders are struggling to recruit the right employees, and almost half are increasingly concerned with employee wellbeing.
Equally important are partnerships and networks. Charities that collaborate with local authorities, businesses, or other charities cope with challenges much better than those that go it alone. The most resilient organisations tend to have diverse income streams, strong business relationships, and leaders who can afford to spend less time firefighting and focus to focus on long-term planning.
What is encouraging is that public trust in charities remains strong, especially for local charities, where impact is both personal and visible.
Small, consistent actions can make a big difference in keeping these charities sustainable, safe in the knowledge that they can rely on regular giving to plan for the future.
This is where donors like you can make a real difference.
Charity leaders are field experts who know exactly where funds are needed most— whether that is retaining talented employees, investing in infrastructure, or simply keeping the lights on. Making an unrestricted donation provides the flexibility charities need to survive and thrive.
Inflation hits charities just as it hits businesses and households. If you can, simply increasing your regular or one-off donations — even by a few pounds — helps charities keep pace with rising costs.
If you are a UK taxpayer, claiming Gift Aid is free for you, but it boosts your donation by 25%. Every £20 becomes £24.50, and that adds up across millions of gifts each year.
Money is not the only way to support charities close to your heart. Talking to friends, family, and others in your community about the charities you support is a vital way to bring others in, spread awareness and demonstrate impact. The sector’s strength lies as much in social capital as financial capital.
Amidst the statistics are stories that remind us what is possible when resilience meets generosity.
Take Esteem, a Sussex-based charity supporting care leavers. Faced with losing its community space, the team worked with our advisory team on building a strong case for funding support to secure £500,000 to buy their building — safeguarding their home and services for years to come. Every regular gift helps charities like Esteem keep their doors open while they work towards big wins like securing a permanent home.
In Camden, Somers Town Community Association partnered with us to realign its purpose and strengthen impact measurement. Today, its five-year plan is fuelled by donors committed to long-term change.
Such stories are made possible by donors who give charities the flexibility to seize opportunities and act with confidence.
They give charities the flexibility to tackle urgent needs and invest in long-term impact.
Topping up regular gifts helps them keep pace with rising costs.
Ticking the box boosts your donation by 25%.
Whether it is sharing charity stories, advocating, or volunteering, every gesture strengthens communities.
The UK charity sector may be facing its toughest period in decades, but its heart is beating stronger than ever. As individuals, we all have the power to keep that heartbeat going, not just through grand gestures, but through steady, thoughtful giving.
So if you have been wondering whether your donation really makes a difference, the answer is simple: yes, it does.
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This year’s UK Giving Report brings together the latest research and insights on how people across the UK are giving today. While it highlights some real challenges, it also reveals the trends shaping public generosity.
Our research found that around two-thirds of all charitable giving is unplanned, prompted by conversations, appeals, or being moved by personal experience rather than by a pre-existing commitment. So, why not be the one to start that conversation?
Rather than spreading funding widely, many donors are focusing their philanthropy on particular places and communities they care about, supporting solutions that reflect local needs, strengths, and lived experience.