# Catholics give £2.9 billion annually according to report from Catholics in Fundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/08/04/catholics-give-2-9bn-annually-according-to-report-from-catholics-in-fundraising/
- Published: 2026-08-04T16:29:24+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A study into Catholic giving, philanthropy and investment across the United Kingdom
has revealed that UK Catholics contribute an estimated £2.9 billion every year to
charitable causes. **

Commissioned by Catholics in Fundraising (CiF) and produced by global consultancy
and search practice Astarita Aldrich Ward (AAW), _The Catholic Generosity Report_
is the first comprehensive study into the size, structure and fundraising performance
of the Catholic sector.

Drawing on regulator data, church statistics and bespoke benchmarking, the research
identifies **840 Catholic charities across the UK** with a combined annual income
of £1.89 billion and assets totalling **£6.85 billion**. Collectively the sector
matches the scale of the UK’s largest charities: for example, as a single entity,
its voluntary income of £565 million would exceed that of Cancer Research UK.

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## A young, diverse and generous population

Approximately **5.3 million people in the UK identify as Catholic**, representing
roughly nine per cent of the adult population. Despite declining religious practice
among older communities, immigration from Central and Eastern Europe, West Africa
and the Philippines has kept overall numbers stable while creating a younger, more
diverse cohort.

**Weekly Mass attendance recovered to roughly 745,000** across the UK in 2024, continuing
a steady post-pandemic rise. Based on ONS wealth data, the **UK Catholic community
holds an estimated £1.2 trillion in household wealth, including around 360,000 households
worth more than £1 million**. The report indicates that Catholic giving averages
£136 per month, around 5.3 per cent of post-tax income—placing it “well above the
overall Christian average”.

## Concentration and structural gaps

Despite its vast financial footprint, the report highlights key vulnerabilities 
and structural underperformance in specific fundraising areas:

 * **High concentration**: The sector relies heavily on a small group of large institutions.
   Dioceses alone account for 53 per cent of all voluntary income, while international
   development organisations generate 17 per cent.

 * **Lagging legacy income**: Legacies make up **just 12 per cent of voluntary income**
   for Catholic charities (£68 million), compared to a **wider sector average of
   32 per cent** among top UK charities. The report stresses that increased, sustained
   investment in legacy campaigns ahead of upcoming tax changes could release tens
   of millions of pounds.

 * **High efficiency**: Catholic charities operate highly cost-effective fundraising
   models, **spending roughly 20 per cent of voluntary income on fundraising** compared
   to 25 per cent among top UK charities. Missionary and international organisations
   raise as much as £9 for every £1 spent.

 * **Capacity deficits**: Catholic fundraising teams are less than half the size
   of comparable non-Catholic organisations, averaging 7.7 full-time employees compared
   to 16.4 in size-matched comparison groups.

## The value of professional networks

The report highlights a direct link between professional investment and fundraising
performance. Organisations whose fundraisers belong to Catholics in Fundraising (
CiF), which commissioned the report, represent a quarter of the Catholic sector,
and account for** 60% of total voluntary income** and 68% of legacy income.

**CiF members raised £6.43 in voluntary income for every £1 spent on fundraising,
compared to £3.32 for non-members.**

## Bridging investment and faith

Interviews with high net worth Catholic donors revealed a persistent gap between
philanthropy and asset management. While Catholic Social Teaching (CST) heavily 
informs giving choices, donors rarely apply these moral principles to their investment
portfolios, treating investment as a purely technical, return-driven exercise. The
report urges charities and wealth managers to adopt emerging faith-consistent frameworks,
such as the Vatican’s Mensuram Bonam guidance, to align wealth with values more 
effectively.

John Green, Chairman of Catholics in Fundraising, said:

“The report offers both encouragement and a challenge. Encouragement because Catholic
generosity remains strong and deeply rooted in our faith tradition, and a challenge
because there remains considerable untapped potential for greater philanthropy, 
legacy giving and collaboration across the sector.”

You can obtain a copy of the report from [John Green](https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/08/04/catholics-give-2-9bn-annually-according-to-report-from-catholics-in-fundraising/jo**@********************ng.com).

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