Since 2005, the Charity Commission has been collecting data on public trust in charities. This year, in association with BMG research, 4,092 members of the public and 2,511 trustees have taken a survey, which should indicate how charities are perceived, the current talking points affecting the sector, and how attitudes have changed year-on-year.
Below are some of the major headlines from the research…
Research results
- Generally, trust in charities has remained high since 2020. 57% of people have high trust in charities, as was the case in 2024. However, a higher proportion of people have low trust in charities, increasing from 9% to 10%.
- Donations to charities have declined since the Covid-19 pandemic, but demand has increased significantly over the same period. However, the number of people volunteering has also risen.
- People say they’re most likely to support a charity if it aligns with their personal beliefs, is personally connected to them, has a positive reputation, or acts transparently.
- A fundamental aspect of trust is knowing donations reach the end cause and purpose of the charity.
- Participants felt charities should split their attention between long-term social change, as well as offering immediate relief.
- Charities are amongst the most trusted organisations, with only doctors outperforming them.
- Opinions were mixed on how high-profile charity scandals alter perception of the sectors. Some felt it was relevant to how all charities are viewed, others did not.
- Most recent news coverage of charities has left the 53% of the public feeling more positive about the sector, despite greater awareness of headlines around the misuse of funds in particular charities.
- Since 2024, knowledge of the charities register has increased, but only 14% of people have ever accessed it.
Please read the research in more detail, if you’re interested how public trust in charities is evolving…
