People in Scotland donated an estimated £910 million to charity last year, declining from £1.1bn in 2024, according to new research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).
CAF’s research finds that the number of people giving to charity has been declining. Last year, 58% of people in Scotland donated or sponsored to support charities. Against the backdrop of household financial pressures, one in five (22%) people in the UK report they don’t donate to charity because they cannot afford it.
CAF’s UK Local Giving Report looks at levels of charitable giving, community engagement and local pride in every UK constituency.
More than a third (38%) already engage in their local community in Scotland, but one in six (17%) would like more opportunities to get involved. More than half (51%) of people in Scotland have a sense of local pride, increasing to 65% in Mid Dunbartonshire which has the strongest sense of satisfaction and belonging.
The report highlights the virtuous circle that when people engage in their local communities, they are more likely to donate to charity and feel a sense of local pride.
Mid Dunbartonshire also gave the highest percentage of household income to good causes with an average of 1.14%. This compares to Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, where people donate 0.64% of their household income.
Mark Greer, Managing Director of the Charities Aid Foundation, commented: “Charities are at the core of our communities. Through their work up and down the country, they strengthen local areas and support those in need.
“When we are facing a sustained trend of declining donations, part of the solution to unlocking greater giving lies in understanding the power of place and community. It might seem obvious, but places matter to people.
“This report shows that when people are engaged in a local area, they tend to give more. It tells us that the people in areas with low levels of engagement and giving aren’t disinterested – they need and want more opportunities.
“We need targeted investment and collaboration from government, philanthropists and businesses to revitalise local cultures of giving and encourage community connections, helping to strengthen charities and the places they support, for the future.”
Ten most generous constituencies in Scotland based on proportion of income donated to charity:
| Mid Dunbartonshire | 1.14% |
| North East Fife | 1.14% |
| East Renfrewshire | 1.03% |
| Arbroath and Broughty Ferry | 1.00% |
| West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine | 1.00% |
| Na h-Eileanan an Iar | 0.99% |
| Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West | 0.99% |
| Stirling and Strathallan | 0.99% |
| East Kilbride and Strathaven | 0.99% |
| Paisley and Renfrewshire North | 0.98% |
