Edinburgh ranked as one of the hotspots for charity fundraising in 2026
Edinburgh has been named as one of the UK’s biggest hotspots for fundraising, according to data from JustGiving.
In the first three months of 2026, Edinburgh came in at number six in the list of places with the most individuals undertaking fundraising challenges for good causes*, up four places from the end of 2025.
Manchester tops the list, holding steady from last quarter, with Glasgow in 2nd place and Bristol in 3rd, with Nottingham and Newcastle completing the top five.
The list has been compiled by JustGiving, the UK’s largest fundraising platform for charitable giving, to mark the launch of the 2026 JustGiving Awards, which looks to celebrate remarkable people up and down the country raising money for causes close to their hearts.
Edinburgh is a city of runners according to the data, with running and marathons proving the most popular vehicles for fundraising in 2026 so far, with causes like MND care, cancer care and poverty relief driving the most donations among locals.
The 2026 JustGiving Awards are now open for nominations, with members of the public invited to put forward inspiring fundraisers from across the UK. The awards celebrate remarkable individuals, families and groups who have gone above and beyond to raise money for a charity or personal cause over the past 18 months.
Finalists will be shortlisted before going forward to a public vote later this year. The awards aim to shine a spotlight on the stories of generosity, determination and community spirit that continue to inspire people across the country.
Michael and Andrew Cole were finalists in the 2025 JustGiving Awards Stronger Together category. Andrew pushed his 73-year-old father, Michael, who is living with MND, around the 2025 Edinburgh Marathon in a specially adapted wheelchair, raising over £5,800 for MND Scotland.
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: “Every year, the JustGiving Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate some of the most inspiring fundraisers in communities like Edinburgh.
“With more than one million fundraising pages created on JustGiving last year, there is no shortage of incredible individuals, families, groups, and even pets, going above and beyond for the causes closest to their hearts.
“Last year, the public submitted 18,000 nominations, shining an important light on the fundraisers whose generosity, determination and impact continue to inspire people across the world. We cannot wait to see who they put forward this year.”
Nominations will be open for just over three weeks, closing on 10 May. To nominate a JustGiving fundraiser who has inspired you, click here. To find out more about last year’s inspiring award winners, click here.
Top ten fundraising hotspots – Quarter 1, 2026 (change from previous quarter in brackets)*:
1. Manchester (non-mover)
2. Glasgow (Up 2)
3. Bristol (Down 1)
4. Nottingham (Down 1)
5. Newcastle (Up 1)
6. Edinburgh (Up 4)
7. Leeds (Down 2)
8. Sheffield (Up 4)
9. London (Down 2)
10. Plymouth (Up 3)
*based on number of fundraising pages created on the JustGiving platform between 1 January – 31 March 2026, weighted by population according to ONS data