As we look ahead to 2025, there are several key trends and themes emerging within the charity sector. Understanding these can help your charity stay ahead of the curve, respond to evolving needs, and tap into new funding opportunities.
The shift towards digital transformation in the charity sector will continue to accelerate in 2025. Many charities have already embraced online fundraising, but in the coming year, we will see a greater focus on digital engagement, from using social media for advocacy to integrating online volunteering platforms. Digital tools will enable charities to streamline their operations, engage a younger demographic, and expand their reach.
The environmental crisis is pushing charities to be more focused on sustainability. In 2025, environmental issues will dominate funding conversations, especially as businesses, funders, and governments ramp up their commitments to combat climate change. Charities tackling climate-related issues, biodiversity, or environmental justice should position themselves as central players in this space.
In addition, the UK charity sector is increasingly aligning its efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Charities that can demonstrate how their work contributes to these global targets will likely see an increase in interest from both individual donors and institutional funders.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the charity sector’s evolving landscape. As the UK’s charity sector grows more inclusive, charities will need to ensure their programs and leadership teams reflect the diverse communities they serve. This will involve examining internal processes and ensuring that they are not inadvertently excluding marginalized groups.
In 2025, expect funders to increasingly require evidence of diversity and inclusivity within the organisations they support. Charities that prioritize DEI will be better positioned to build stronger relationships with stakeholders and attract a wider pool of donors.
Charities are under increasing pressure to prove the impact of their work. In 2025, funders will demand more detailed, measurable outcomes. The Social Value Act of 2012, which requires public sector organizations to consider social value in procurement decisions, has influenced this trend, but it’s expected to expand further across all funding sources.
Charities should focus on developing robust measurement frameworks and impact reporting systems that demonstrate the tangible difference they are making. A shift towards data-driven decision-making will also enable charities to attract funding from evidence-focused institutions.
Collaboration between charities, corporates, and local authorities will continue to increase in 2025. The rise of collective impact models, where organisations work together towards shared goals, is an important development. Charities that can collaborate effectively will have access to a wider pool of resources, expertise, and networks.
To stay ahead, charities should build relationships with other organisations in the sector, whether through partnerships or joint campaigns, to amplify their reach and influence.
