# CAF UK Giving Report 2026 CAF's UK Giving Report 2026 provides a detailed view of how people across the UK are giving today, the trends shaping public generosity, and the practical recommendations that can help charities strengthen their resilience and plan for the future. Drawing on nationally representative data, the report offers clear insight into shifts in donor behaviour and supports charities in navigating an increasingly complex giving landscape. **Key Findings** * **In 2025 the British public donated an estimated £14 billion** - This is a decline from £15.4 billion in 2024 and is the first decrease in total giving since 2021. The decrease is driven by lower average donations in 2025 (£65, down from £72 in 2024). * The latest figures follow many years in which the number of donors declined but overall donation levels stayed stable, the impact mitigated by a small number of high-value donors donating larger amounts. Last year, however, both donor numbers and donations fell. * **One in five people say they cannot afford to give to charity** - Lack of affordability is the main reason people do not donate, and is common across all demographics. 49% of non-donors say they cannot afford it. * **There are six million fewer donors compared to 10 years ago** - Over the past decade, the number of charity supporters has declined significantly. In 2016, an estimated 37 million adults donated or sponsored someone (equating to 69% of adults). But, by 2025, this had declined to around 31 million to (55% of adults) — a drop of around six million people. The decline was steepest during the pandemic, with a cumulative loss of nearly four million donors throughout 2020 and 2021. * **The decline in donors has cost charities an estimated £12.4 billio**n over the last 10 years - If the public had continued to give each year at the same rate as they did in 2016, an estimated £12.4 billion more would have gone to charities. This is on par with a year’s worth of giving. The CAF data shows a decline in giving across all age groups and all cause areas * The CAF data shows a decline in giving across all age groups and all cause areas See also https://www.cafonline.org/services-for-charities/resources/understanding-donor-decline-and-what-charities-can-do https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/16/fewer-britons-giving-charity-donations-down-14bn "Charity giving was no longer a "deeply embedded cultural norm" amid rising living cost pressures, and a more sceptical society, said the Caf managing director, Mark Greer: "Charities can no longer depend solely on habitual generosity or goodwill from the public," he said. The consequences have been felt across the voluntary sector in recent months, with even some of the UKs biggest charities - including Macmillan Cancer Support, Samaritans and Oxfam - making big cuts to staff and budgets." --- ## About SCVO SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact. SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector. Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners. Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored learning opportunities. SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience. Discounts and savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org). For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)