Corporate Giving: A Call to Action for Irish Business

Key Takeaways: 

• Corporate giving in the UK is stagnating at around £4.26 billion annually, with inflation eroding its real value and only a quarter of businesses contributing anything at all. 

• Cash donations are in steep decline, replaced by in-kind support and volunteering, yet unrestricted financial giving remains essential for sustaining charities and frontline services. 

• If all major companies gave just 1% of pre-tax profits, an additional £9 billion a year could be unlocked for the sector, transforming the capacity of charities to meet growing social needs. 

The CAF Corporate Giving Report 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of corporate philanthropy across the UK, with a particular focus on the FTSE 100 and wider business landscape. It paints a picture of stagnation at a time when charities are under enormous pressure, but it also highlights opportunities for companies to embed giving into their long-term strategies. 

In 2024, UK businesses donated an estimated £4.26 billion to charity, almost unchanged from the previous year. Nearly half of this came from FTSE 100 companies, but when inflation is taken into account, corporate giving has fallen by around 10% since 2022. This amounts to a loss of approximately £185 million in real terms. Worryingly, three-quarters of British businesses gave no support to charities at all, and only 24 of the FTSE 100 companies donated at least 1% of their pre-tax profits. CAF estimates that if all large companies were to give 1%, it could mean £9.06 billion flowing annually to the charitable sector. 

A major concern is the decline in cash giving, which fell by £300 million in 2024, including £100 million less from the FTSE 100 alone. Businesses are increasingly turning to in-kind contributions such as goods and services, and to employee volunteering. These forms of support are valuable, but unrestricted financial donations remain critical for charities to run services, invest in infrastructure and innovate. Healthcare companies stand out for their generosity, together donating £492 million in 2024, with GSK alone contributing £363 million in drugs, vaccines, and cash. By contrast, sectors such as technology, energy and financial services lag significantly behind when giving is compared to profits. 

The report also identifies a disconnect between leadership and employees. Only 16% of business leaders feel a strong obligation to deliver social impact, while 70% of employees believe that their employers should take an active role in addressing inequalities and other social challenges. Companies that adopt structured approaches, such as the Business for Societal Impact (B4SI) framework, consistently give more and volunteer more, demonstrating the benefits of embedding philanthropy into corporate purpose. Local giving is especially important, with over half of FTSE 100 firms prioritising causes in areas where they operate. Popular areas of support include social welfare, children and young people, education, and the environment. 

Although overall trends are flat, there are signs of optimism. Around 30% of UK businesses, particularly smaller firms, plan to increase their giving in 2025. CAF recommends that companies commit at least 1% of profits to charity, using a multi-year rolling average of profits to avoid volatility in donations. Case studies such as Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme, which has steadily expanded community support, the Trussell Trust’s long-standing supermarket partnerships that sustain food banks, and Vodafone Foundation’s global initiatives combining digital innovation with social impact, illustrate the transformative potential of consistent, strategic philanthropy. 

Finally, the report calls on government to restore the mandatory reporting of corporate giving, which was removed from the Companies Act in 2013. Greater transparency would strengthen accountability and encourage more businesses to embed philanthropy into their strategies. The wider message is that businesses, charities and policymakers must work together to create a culture of long-term, place-based giving. The report makes clear that corporate philanthropy is not an optional extra, but a cornerstone of responsible business practice, with the power to revitalise communities and strengthen civil society.