# CAF paid highest ever total to charities in 2016/17

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/08/caf-paid-highest-ever-total-charities-201617/
- Published: 2017-08-08T09:00:19+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Charities Aid Foundation paid a record £539 million to charities in the UK
and worldwide last year, breaking the half billion pound barrier for the first time,
according to the charity’s annual report.**

According to the [annual report](https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/about-us-governance/caftrusteesreport_2140a_web_030817.pdf?sfvrsn=53b2aa40_6),
the level of giving by people and companies through CAF rose for the fifth consecutive
year, with donations into CAF reaching a record £611 million.

The 2016/17 annual Trustees’ Report shows that:

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 * CAF’s private clients – major donors making substantial gifts to charity – gave
   £284m during the year, up £78m on 2015/16, including some exceptional donations
 * CAF corporate donors gave more than £98m to charities, up from £76m in 2015/16
 * CAF works with more than 50,000 charities, channelling donations and providing
   other services to the sector
 * CAF Bank’s lending grew to £72m, supporting charity projects around the country
 * CAF Donate, the online fundraising platform, grew by 10%, helping charities raise
   £25m

CAF also launched [CAF Investment Account](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/11/11/caf-launches-investment-fund-charities-sizes/)
in 2016 to help charities manage charity-specific investment funds online, offering
access to more than 4,000 funds via a digital trading platform.

Sir John Low, CAF Chief Executive, said:

> “We are overwhelmed by the level of generosity among the people and businesses
> who work through CAF to support the causes they care about. Despite economic uncertainty,
> we have been able to help our donors give well over £500m to charities, amazing
> resources that will strengthen communities and transform lives all over the world.
> And we are delighted that so many philanthropists trust CAF to steward and grow
> their major donations so they can continue giving strategically long into the 
> future.”

 * **[2017 CAF World Giving Index reveals slight drop in UK & global generosity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/09/05/2017-caf-world-giving-index-reveals-slight-drop-uk-global-generosity/)**(
   5 September 2017)
 * **[Scots more generous than UK as a whole says first annual CAF Scotland Giving report](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/10/05/scots-generous-uk-whole-says-first-annual-caf-scotland-giving-report/)**(
   5 October 2017)
 * **[CAF research shows more than half give away unwanted Christmas gifts](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/12/29/caf-research-shows-half-give-away-unwanted-christmas-gifts/)**(
   29 December 2017)

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