![[ad] Empower free webinar 9 September](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Banner-Ad-728x90-1-1.png.webp)
Charities named UK’s “most trusted institution”
Howard Lake | 7 August 2026 | News
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
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%).
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
On 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, 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.
You can download a copy of Enthuse’s Donor Pulse report for free in return for registering your details.
- Enthuse reports on mass participation event trends (10 February 2026)
- Great Run picks Enthuse as online fundraising partner (17 February 2022)
Related posts
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.