Evidence library

This report pulls together key facts about the individual giving landscape in Scotland and the wider UK using a range of data sources including the Scottish Third Sector Tracker.
Individual giving is an essential source of income for many charities and voluntary groups and helps fund an enormous range of activities. Here we highlight some headline figures, with a focus on key trends in recent years both during and after COVID-19.

Key insights: donations, legacies and fundraising

• Individual giving from the general public was worth an estimated £1.2bn to Scottish charities in 2023.
• Income from individual giving made up 15% of the Scottish charity sector’s income in 2023, down from around 20% in 2018 and previous years.
• Income from individual giving has fallen in real terms by over £240m in recent years, from £1.45bn in 2018 to £1.2bn in 2023.
• Most income streams from the general public were hit hard by Covid, and while many of these income streams have now bounced back they have generally not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
• Donations are the main factor driving the downturn in individual giving - donations fell in real terms by £224m between 2018 and 2023, a drop of 30%.
• Fewer individuals are donating to charity, although many who do donate are giving larger amounts.
• Data from the Spring 2025 Scottish Third Sector Tracker suggests that a rising number of voluntary organisations saw positive growth in both donations and fundraising income, suggesting some reasons for cautious optimism despite the challening financial environment.