# Top 500 charities' voluntary income up by 7.5%, says Charity Trends 2004 - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/07/04/top-500-charities039-voluntary-income-75-says-charity-trends-2004/ - Published: 2004-07-04T23:00:00+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake The jump in voluntary income reverses the decline of 2001-2002, according to Charities Aid Foundation in the 25th edition of Charity Trends. Voluntary income to the top 500 fundraising charities jumped last year by 7.5% in real terms, according to Charities Aid Foundation’s latest edition of ‘Charity Trends’. Of this, income from donations and fundraising rose by 10% and 16% respectively, while legacy growth slowed to 3%. The 25th annual analysis of the top charities’ income and expenditure reports that they generated a total income of £8.6 billion, of which £4.6 billion (53%) came from voluntary sources. The composition of the top 500 charities has changed considerably, with 250 new entries. The entry level continues to rise: even the lowest ranked charity now has a voluntary income of around £2 million. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) Between 2002-03, the single largest source of income to the top 500 charities was donations and grants at 31%, followed by trading fees and contracts at 21%, grants from public bodies at 15%, and legacies at 13%. While income from rent and investments represented 9% of total income, its value actually fell in real terms by 3%. Expenditure as well as income has risen. Total expenditure by the top 500 for 2002- 03 was £8.1 billion, a rise in real terms of 10% on the previous year. 84% (£6.7 billion) went on direct charitable expenditure, up by 11% on the previous year; 9% on fundraising, up by 8%; and 3% on trading, which grew by 7% on 2001-02. The gap between the largest and smallest charities in the UK continues to widen.‘ Charity Trends’ found that 20% of total income to the top 500 charities in 2002- 03 was generated by the top 10 charities alone – receiving £1.6 billion between them. Cathy Pharoah, CAF’s Director of Research and author of ‘Charity Trends’ said: “ This year’s results show that currently the strength of charity income lies in its diversity. But while last year saw the greatest growth in non-voluntary income, this year has seen a revival of income from voluntary sources: charities need long- term strategies to escape this annual see-sawing of income”. ‘Charity Trends’ 25th Edition is published by CaritasData Ltd priced £270 or £135 for registered charities. * **[CFDG welcomes Transparency and Accountability Study](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/07/05/cfdg-welcomes-transparency-and-accountability-study/)**( 5 July 2004) * **[Plastic to overtake cash as means of payment](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/07/07/plastic-overtake-cash-means-payment/)**( 7 July 2004) * **[Building Society's hospice supporter account yields first donations](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/07/25/building-society039s-hospice-supporter-account-yields-first-donations/)**( 25 July 2004)