# Charities named UK’s “most trusted institution” - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/08/07/charities-named-uks-most-trusted-institution/ - Published: 2026-08-07T17:33:14+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **New research from Enthuse, the donations, fundraising and event registration platform, finds that public regard for charities is holding firm despite continued economic pressure. ** Its annual **Donor Pulse** report, based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by RedFox Research in May 2026, reports that **83%** view charities as either more important than ever (**35%**) or increasingly important(** 48%**). Fortunately, the sentiment appears to be matched by behaviour. Around three quarters(** 73%**) said they had donated in the past three months. This figure is identical to that yielded a year ago, which Enthuse frames as a dependable benchmark for the sector. ## 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/) Almost half (**48%**) gave to at least two causes, rising to **56%** among those aged 44 and under. Looking ahead, **74%** _intend_ to give in the coming quarter, even as household budgets tighten. Not surprisingly **68% of respondents cited food costs** as their top financial worry (up from 63% in 2025) and **61% named energy bills** (up from 54%). ![Enthuse chart - percentage of public who have donated to multiple charities over last three months.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/08/Enthuse-percentage- of-public-who-have-donated-to-multiple-charities-over-last-three-months-chart@2x. png) Chart: Enthuse ## Most-supported causes The most-supported causes over the previous three months were **disease support or research (22%)**, **children’s charities (22%)**, the **NHS, hospitals and hospices( 21%)** and **animal charities (21%)**. **Faith charities** have grown steadily, **from 5% in 2023 to 8% in 2026**, while** overseas aid has slipped from 10% to 6%** over the same period. The research found that more than four in ten donors said that concerns over “where the money goes” hold them back from international giving. ## Trust ![Trust in charities. Enthuse illustration shows a runner with a headband giving a thumbs-up beneath an orange heart with a charity ribbon on it and shaking hands beneath, all symbols of trust.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2026/08/enthuse- trust-signals-20260805@2x.png) Image: Enthuse On [public trust](https://fundraising.co.uk/tag/public-trust/), charities lead by a wide margin: **75%** report moderate to high trust in them, against **41%** for faith and religious groups, **36%** for corporations, **35%** for the UK government,** 33%** for mainstream media and **22%** for political parties. That trust appears to contribute to behaviour, with **55%** preferring to **give directly through a charity’s own website**, over four times the **13% favouring consumer giving platforms**. ## Regular giving and legacies The research asked about longer-term commitment to charities. Of all respondents,** 22%** said that they have a direct debit or standing order with a charity and ** 34%** “consider themselves” regular donors, with 31% citing a prior donation as their main motivation to commit further. On legacies, **14% have included a charitable gift in their will** and a **further 35% are open to doing so**. In commentary, Enthuse’s report questions whether this might shift once unused pension funds fall within inheritance tax from April 2027. Eddie Allenby, General Manager at [Enthuse](https://fundraising.co.uk/tag/enthuse/), said the findings were “a powerful endorsement for the sector,” but cautioned that the real challenge lies in sustaining support, arguing that tailored supporter relationships are what drive repeat giving and lifelong advocacy. [⌊Front cover of Enthuse's Donor Pulse 2026 edition⌉⌊Front cover of Enthuse's Donor Pulse 2026 edition⌉[ Image: Enthuse **You can download a copy of [Enthuse’s Donor Pulse report](https://enthuse.com/insights/donor-pulse-report-2026/) for free in return for registering your details.** * **[Enthuse reports on mass participation event trends](https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/02/10/enthuse-reports-on-mass-participation-event-trends/)( 10 February 2026) * **[Great Run picks Enthuse as online fundraising partner](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/02/17/great-run-picks-enthuse-as-online-fundraising-partner/)( 17 February 2022)