Small Charity Week 2026 match funding applications open
Howard Lake | 13 January 2026 | News
Applications are now open for the Small Charity Week 2026 match funding campaign, which provides a valuable opportunity for small charities to secure vital unrestricted income.
Coordinated by Big Give, Global’s Make Some Noise, and NCVO, the campaign is expanding in 2026 to include UK-based organisations working internationally, alongside increased funding for charities in Scotland and Wales.
The initiative aims to enhance both income and long-term resilience for participants.
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Benefits beyond income
The 2025 campaign raised £1.84 million in the week of the campaign, and participating charities reported significant benefits beyond the funds themselves. Post-campaign data showed that:
- 97% of charities reported increased confidence in digital fundraising, despite 90% having little or no prior experience.
- 97% received donations from new supporters, with 39% of the total donations from the campaign coming from completely new donors.
- 90% raised more, and larger donations, compared to other non-matched fundraising activity.
- 97% of charities gained new supporters and reported increased confidence in digital fundraising.
The 2026 campaign will run from June 22 to June 29. Public donations will be doubled by Champion funders, including players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Applications are welcomed from UK-registered charities with the Charity Commission, OSCR or NI Charity Commission number. Charities with tax-exempt status are not eligible.
Applications close at 17:00 on Wednesday,11 February 2026.
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- Big Give founder Sir Alec Reed dies at 91 (3 December 2025)
- Big Give’s Christmas Challenge 2025 raises £57.4 million in a week (9 December 2025)
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.