The landscape of the charity sector has changed substantially over the past decade with a rapid increase in the number of charities and those employed in the sector. What has not really changed over this time is the giving habits of UK citizens. The number of people who donate regularly − around 54% of the UK population − has declined slightly in 2006/7. The overall level of donations is flat. In short, there are more charities competing for less money.

The most significant change in giving over the past few years has been the emergence of a growing group of high net worth individuals, who are getting serious about their philanthropy. They want to give their earned wealth away in their lifetime. These donors are asking for more accountability from charities; they are less likely to take the intrinsic value of charities for granted, and they want to see the impact of their donations.

Giving facts

• The UK charity sector is becoming increasingly competitive
  
• Charities will need to find new ways to engage the UK donor
• Charities will need to meet the challenge of high net worth donors

Sources of information about giving trends:

• Charity Trends 2007, Charities Aid Foundation
• World Wealth Report 2007, Capgemini, Merrill Lynch
• The 21st Century Donor, nfpSynergy, September 2007
• The Changing Face of Philanthropy, Barclays Wealth, September 2007
• Philanthropy amongst ultra high net worth individuals and family offices in Europe, NPC & Scorpio Partnership, 2007
• The Sunday Times Rich List, 2007
• The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac 2007, National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
• Helping Out, Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, 2006
• Giving USA 2006, Giving USA Foundation
• UK Giving 2007, NCVO and Charities Aid Foundation
• A Guide to Giving, Philanthropy UK, Coutts 2005
• Individuals' Donations to Charities and their Use of Tax Relief, Inland Revenue, 2004
• Philanthropy's Forgotten Resource? Engaging the Individual Donor, New Visions, 2003