Big Give’s Christmas Challenge continues to be a highlight of the year for charities across the UK, offering a unique chance to double donations and reach new supporters during the festive season.

This year, 1,945 charities applied to take part in the campaign, a 26% increase on 2024. 29% were first-time applicants, demonstrating that the Christmas Challenge remains a popular way for both new and returning charities to grow their impact and engage supporters.

The numbers so far

Here’s a snapshot of who’s applying and what they’re aiming for:

• Champion funding success: 93% of eligible charities (1,495 organisations) were offered Champion match funding, either full or partial.
• Average pledges: Charities raised an average of £8,454 in funding from their pledge supporters, a 23% increase on last year.
• Funding per charity: The average amount of Champion funding offered was £7,096, up 12% from 2024.
• Charity size:
  • 57% of funded charities had an annual income under £1m.
  • 38% had an income under £500k, showing that smaller charities are successfully leveraging match funding to create a big impact.
• Top cause categories:
  • 57% of charities focused on Health and Wellbeing.
  • 36% chose Education, Training, and Employment.
  • 28% chose Poverty Alleviation and Relief
• Top beneficiary groups:
  • 55% targeted children aged 3–18.
  • 39% focused on broader community initiatives.
  • 30% work with young people (18-30)

Learning from 2024: how charities benefited

Looking back at last year’s campaign highlights the real-world difference the Christmas Challenge can make:

• 82% of charities reached or exceeded their funding targets.
• 94% reported receiving donations from new supporters, expanding their donor base.
• 77% saw an increase in donations compared to their usual fundraising efforts.
• 68% experienced an uptick in individual donation sizes, meaning supporters were giving more than usual.

These results show that the Christmas Challenge doesn’t just multiply donations, it also helps charities grow supporter networks, try new fundraising approaches, and build confidence for the future.

Looking forward to December

The Christmas Challenge is about more than match funding – it’s about unlocking potential, inspiring supporters, and helping charities dream bigger. With last year’s results showing clear growth in donor engagement and campaign success, December promises to be another season where every donation counts – double.

While the Champion funding for this year has risen significantly, we recognise there’s still more to do. Our goal is always to secure full funding for as many charities as possible, though this isn’t always achievable. We encourage interested funders to get in touch and help us support even more charities making an incredible difference in the world.

A huge thank you to our 2025 Champion partners for making this possible, and to all the charities: we can’t wait to celebrate the impact you’ll create this Christmas.