Renewed hope for fundraising in 2026

Charities continue to operate in a challenging environment. The past year has seen a stark increase in geopolitical uncertainty, rising and shrinking reserves.

 

And yet, despite the challenges, good news has arrived. The Enthuse Charity Pulse Report 2026 shows momentum in the realm of fundraising, with 77% of charities experiencing growing or stable incomes and 45% seeing increases – an eight-point rise on the previous year. And, better still, two-thirds (64%) feel optimistic about fundraising in 2026.

 

Events are a particular driver, as we’ll explore, but Enthuse also reports renewed confidence in the likes of corporate fundraising and individual giving. The next 12 months may well prove tough but plenty of opportunities exist.

 

Here we look deeper into the Enthuse Charity Pulse Report, explore the opportunities, and show you how to embrace the fundraising momentum.

 

Download the full report

 

 

A welcome optimism in fundraising

 

The ever-dutiful Enthuse, by publishing annual Charity Pulse Reports, has tracked an upward trend not just in 2026, but over the past five years. It makes for encouraging reading.

 

In 2021, for example, just 27% of charities reported a projected increase in fundraising, compared to 45% in 2026, an eighteen-point increase in five years. That speaks to our resilience as a sector, a resilience that, in 2026, might bear more fruitful fruit. It is perhaps no surprise that charities are optimistic.

 

There are plenty of growth opportunities in the year ahead. Nearly six in ten (59%) charities see corporate fundraising as an area of growth, with opportunities for greater reach, skills and knowledge sharing, and increased trust. More than half of charities (53%) expect income from fundraising events to rise, making it an essential area of focus, which we’ll touch upon later.

 

Even in areas less commonly cited, we are seeing optimism. Individual giving may not be the top priority for growth, but optimism increases even here, in an area that has been marred by pessimism in recent years. Nearly half (46%) of charities expect growth in individual giving in 2026, compared to less than a third (31%) in 2024, which constitutes a 15-point increase.

 

Optimism stems not just from the fundraising landscape. Charities are optimistic about the way in which we fundraise: new developments, innovative solutions, the latest tech. Three-quarters of charities said they were optimistic because of a greater awareness of their cause, which speaks to ever-improving marketing and branding across the sector.

 

Growth in awareness links to the second biggest reason for charity optimism: opportunities to make use of digital channels, cited by 69% of respondents. That shows the value of digital fundraising, making use of integrated donation journeys, branding platforms, and customised solutions.

 

Download the report

 

 

Huge opportunities with charity events

 

Charity events have long provided a vital source of income for charities. But the nature of events has shifted over the past few years. We saw in-person events disappear during the pandemic and mass participation events cancelled or postponed. Zoom played permanent host, with a surge of virtual options: quizzes, concerts, auctions, challenge events.

 

Then hybrid events were all the rage. You could extend your reach and provide that authentic, human touch that donors crave. Many charities found a middle ground, offering digital options at in-person events and networking during virtual events. Many charities – like Charity Digital – offer in-person and virtual events, often tailored to meet donor or audience expectations.

 

The potential of events remains huge in 2026, according to the Enthuse report. Charities are increasingly backing mass participation events run by third parties, such as the TCS London Marathon and AJ Bell Great North Run. More than four in five (81%) of charities will participate in such events, a massive jump up from 64% in 2025, and nearly half (45%) are planning to launch their own mass participation events in the coming year.

 

To reap the benefits of events, charities need to onboard the necessary tech. Many are taking steps in the right direction. Nearly nine in ten (88%) charities use QR codes, a simple and versatile tool for both physical and virtual events. Three quarters of charities use contactless payments, with many trialling or experimenting with mobile payment solutions.

 

But charities need to go further, using tech that makes events more appealing from the start. Charities should use platforms like Enthuse to create branded fundraising pages as soon as possible. In fact, more than half of charities (53%) plan to do that in 2026. Integrated event sign-up and automatic web page creation could provide a significant boost, while simultaneously helping staff focus on more meaningful fundraising tasks. Using the right tech remains vital.

 

It is a year of optimism, at least in the world of fundraising. Challenges remain but, as shown in the Charity Pulse Report 2026, charities seem well-placed to face the challenges and embrace the optimism. We look forward to seeing all the exciting fundraising that will take place in 2026.

 

Discover Enthuse