Donations paid into Charities Aid Foundation’s charitable accounts reached a record £524m last year, according to CAF’s annual report.

It was the first time donations paid into CAF exceeded £500m, and £462m was redistributed to good causes in 2015/16.

Announcing its results CAF said it manages donations on behalf of wealthy philanthropists, 2,500 businesses and more than 250,000 people.

There was a 10 per cent increase in donations into CAF Charitable Trust accounts and legacies in 2015/16, compared to the previous year. The amount they paid out to charities also rose - from £156m to £164m.

Regular givers donated £104m through CAF, up £4m on the previous year. Meanwhile £85m was paid into CAF Company Accounts, up £3m on the previous year.

More than £76m was donated by employees of more than 2,500 firms through Give As You Earn, CAF’s payroll giving service.

CAF Bank has now loaned £46m to charities, while online fundraising platform CAF Donate has helped charities raise £23m.

CAF chief executive John Low said the record level of support is “befitting of one of the world’s most generous countries”.

However, the current economic uncertainty and record low interest rates will undoubtedly have an impact on charities and CAF, he said.

“Over the next year we will continue to build on the strong progress we have made to provide greater support to charities and encourage people to give even more generously.”

Share Story: