Trends and recommendations from CAF's UK Giving Report 2025

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)‘s UK Giving Report 2025 has just been published. Read it in full on the links, but here’s a quick summary:

The report provides a detailed analysis of charitable giving trends across the UK, and highlights a decline in the number of people donating to charity, with only half of the population contributing in the past year, which is a record low. This drop is especially pronounced among young people, with only 36% of 16-24-year-olds donating, which marks a steady decline since 2017. Despite the lower number of donors, however, £15.4 billion was donated in 2024, which suggests that those who do give are giving more, with an average donation of £72.

Other trends highlighted:

A significant drop in volunteer numbers, (5.6 million people volunteering in 2024, down 1.5 million from the previous year)
Health charities received the most financial support (estimated £2.22 billion)
Direct debit remains the most popular donation method
Around 3.9 million people cancelled regular charity payments
Public trust in charities remains strong although many people are reluctant to fund administrative costs, particularly executive salaries.

Recommendations in the report for charities, donors, and policymakers to help rebuild the culture of giving: