# 1.6m fewer people gave last year – but average donation size rose

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/11/23/1-6m-fewer-people-gave-last-year-but-average-donation-size-rose/
- Published: 2021-11-23T09:30:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**1.6m fewer people donated to charity last year but the average donation rose in
response to the pandemic, particularly amongst older adults, according to CAF’s 
latest UK Giving report, released today.**

The [2021 UK Giving report](https://www.cafonline.org/about-us/publications/2021-publications/uk-giving-2021)
is based on the responses of 13,406 adults questioned by YouGov across last year.
It found that 62% of people gave to charity last year through donations or sponsorship,
dropping from 65% the previous year. This rate has been declining since 2016 when
69% donated, and while the latest drop is likely to have been fuelled by the cancellation
of fundraising events during the lockdowns and ongoing social distancing measures,
[CAF](https://www.cafonline.org/)‘s figures show donation levels remaining low into
2021 when most restrictions have lifted.

![Cover of The UK Giving Report 2021 - "the largest study of giving behaviour in
the UK" by CAF](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/11/caf-giving-report-cover-
2021.jpg)

Image: CAF

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As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, those who did give, donated more than in the
past.  In any given month, people gave an average of £53.52 via donations or sponsorship,
compared the £45.69 in 2019, even though one in three (36%) had personally experienced
a decrease in their household’s disposable income because of the pandemic. The average
monthly donation has remained slightly higher in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels,
with an average monthly donation of £49 from January to June, compared to £42 for
the same period in 2019.

Donation levels were especially low during the 2020 festive period – usually the
peak time of year for charitable giving. Last November, 32% of people said they 
had given via donations or sponsorship in the past four weeks, down from 43% in 
November 2019.

## Average donations by age group

Average donations (not including sponsorship) increased in 2020 amongst older adults
and declined in younger adults. Those aged 55-64 gave an average monthly donation
of £71 in 2020, compared to £45 the previous year. While in previous years, donors
aged 25-34 have given the largest donations, this declined from £50 in 2019 to £
45 in 2020. For 16-24 year olds, the average monthly donation fell more sharply,
from £46 in 2019 to £29 in 2020.

Animal welfare, children or young people, and medical research were the most popular
causes as shown in the table below.

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2021/11/image009.png)

## Overall giving figures

The research found that an estimated £11.3bn was given to charities in 2020, increasing
from £10.6bn in 2019, with £5.4 billion donated between January to June. Despite
lockdown restrictions lifting, during the first half of 2021, this fell to an estimated
£4.6 billion.

Neil Heslop, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation said:

> “While we rightly celebrate a rise in the total amount given to charity over the
> course of 2020, there has been a worrying trend over the last five years that 
> the number of people donating continues to decline, despite the tremendous generosity
> we have all witnessed during the pandemic. Although those who give are giving 
> more, we know that for charities to survive and be there for those they help, 
> they rely on mass giving.”
>  
> “It is heartening to note that even as people worry about household finances in
> uncertain times, giving to charity remains integral to the lives of millions.”

## Cash vs. online giving

Cash donations dwindled in 2020 with only 38% of donors giving in this way, compared
to 51% the previous year. This has continued into 2021 with as little as 7% of donors
using cash in January 2021.

Last year saw an increase in donors using digital methods, peaking in May 2020 when
35% gave via a website or app, compared to 9% who gave in cash. Of those between
55-64, a quarter (25%) gave via a website or app in 2020, compared with 17% in 2019.
Amongst those aged over 65, 18% gave via a website or app in 2020, compared to 14%
the previous year, and the proportion giving by debit card increased from 13% to
18%.

However, CAF’s report finds that the numbers of people giving online has not been
sustained, declining to 14% in August 2021.