Match-funding organisation the Big Give has reported that its latest annual Christmas Challenge raised a record £44.7m, which it said was the UK’s largest public fundraising campaign this year.
This year’s total from the week-long campaign that closed yesterday marked a 35% increase from the £33m raised in 2023, which was itself a record total at the time.
More than 119,000 donations were made to 1,267 participating charities, 74% of which met or exceeded their own fundraising targets.
The campaign, which ran from 3 to 10 December, saw public donations matched by Big Give partners including philanthropists, foundations and companies.
It secured a record £20m in match funds from affiliated organisations, including the Reed Foundation, Julia Rausing Trust, the Childhood Trust and the Hospital Saturday Fund.
The flagship campaign accounts for around three-quarters of the £346m raised by the Big Give since 2008.
Some 59% of the charities taking part were small organisations with an annual income of less than £1m.
‘Extraordinary’ increase on previous year’s total
The £44.7m raised by the Big Give was more than the on-the-night totals raised by Comic Relief (£38.6m) and Children in Need (£39.2m) this year.
James Reed, the chair of the board of Big Give trustees, said: “We are thrilled that Big Give’s Christmas Challenge has become the biggest public fundraiser in the UK this year thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who has donated, particularly at a time when we know charitable giving is being squeezed by the cost of living crisis.”
Reed, who is also the chair and CEO of the Reed employment agency, added that the Big Give had hoped to break its previous fundraising record, but that to do so by such a large margin was “extraordinary”.
“I want to thank everyone who chose one of over 1,250 charities to support and our generous funding champions who put up match funding to double those donations,” he said.
“Behind every £1 raised and every target hit are stories of incredible, life-changing, heart-warming impact delivered by our charity partners.
“These funds will make a vital difference to the lives of so many. Thank you again to everyone who has so generously supported this year’s campaign.”
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