The Big Give Christmas Challenge has raised nearly £29m in one week, the highest amount raised since the initiative began 15 years ago.
For the first time ever, more than 1,000 charities took part, with donations to 1,021 charities being match funded through the scheme this year.
Some 81,271 donations were made during this year’s week-long campaign, which ran from 29 November to 6 December, compared to 79,054 last year.
Overall, £28.6m was raised including Gift Aid and £13.3 in match funds, compared to a £24.1m total last year.
The initiative match funds all donations made. This year, contributing charities were the Royal Academy of Dance, the WOW Foundation, Homeless Link and many more.
From last year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, 94% of the charities that took part reported receiving donations from new supporters.
On average, 33% of donations were estimated to be from new supporters.
The charity, the Big Give, said the campaign is even more important this year in the midst of the “cost-of-giving crisis”.
Since the festive campaign began, the Big Give has raised over £200m for more than 14,000 different charities.
The initiative is endorsed by celebrities like Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Chris Packham and many more in its annual campaign video.
‘Overwhelmed by support’
Alex Day, managing director of Big Give, said: “We are overwhelmed by the level of support people have shown in this year’s Christmas Challenge, which has raised a record sum.
“Our mission is simple, to multiply the impact of generous giving. To be able to support over 1,000 charities taking part in the Christmas Challenge campaign at a time when their work is never more needed is a huge privilege. We know that match funding resonates with the public, who have responded to the idea of doubling their donations at a time when everyone is feeling the squeeze.
“It once again reiterates the generosity of the British public. We are particularly thankful to our match-funding champions, like the Reed Foundation, the Childhood Trust, Julia & Hans Rausing Trust and others, who also committed match funds in record sums.”
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