Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has found that the number of people donating, volunteering or sponsoring someone for charity last year has fallen to the lowest level since it began recording this data almost a decade ago.

Its UK Giving Report 2025 found that charities are relying on donations from only half of people who said they donated money in the previous month.

Since 2019 charities are relying on 4m fewer donors, according to the research, which includes survey data from more than 13,000 people.

Just a fifth said they sponsored someone for charity over the last year, down from just under a third six years ago. This equates to 6m fewer people backing a friend, family member or colleague’s fundraising efforts.

It found that this downward trend in giving is more prevalent among 16–24-year-olds. While just over half of those in this age group donated or sponsored in 2019, this had dropped to a little over a third by last year.

In addition, CAF found that the number of people volunteering for charity fell from 7.1m in 2023 to 5.6m last year.

Last year the public donated an estimated £15.4bn, based on CAF’s findings.

Health charities

Health charities, including hospices and those involved in medical research, received an estimated £2.2bn, the most funding of any sector.

Regular giving is the most popular way to give, with almost half of those surveyed donating through direct debit or standing order. Cash is the second most popular method for donating, used by around a third.

“The act of giving builds connection between people and places, brings us together and helps us to understand each other more - which has never been more essential,” said CAF chief executive Neil Heslop.

“The very significant amount donated by the public to charities and good causes last year reflects everyday generosity, in every place, in the UK.

“But this research starkly demonstrates that we need to do much more to build our culture of giving.

“We are relying on an ever-smaller group of people to give while the challenging economic environment continues to place significant strain on charities.

“To renew our culture of giving across the UK, the government should deliver a national strategy for philanthropy and charitable giving, to support charities to deliver their life-changing work.

“Revitalising our culture of giving will help to build a more connected, more generous and more resilient society for all of us in the future.”

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