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What the Latest Research Tells Us About Generosity in Ireland

  • Jul 31
  • 4 min read

Updated: Aug 7

By Hazel Hennessy

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Recent research by the Charities Regulator and the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) offers a revealing snapshot of how Ireland continues to give—both in spirit and in substance. These reports shed light on patterns of generosity, trust in the nonprofit sector, and the deep-rooted tradition of supporting others that still defines much of Irish society. While charitable giving and philanthropy have their own unique characteristics, understanding these trends helps chart the path forward for growing a more strategic and impactful philanthropy ecosystem in Ireland. 


Charitable Giving in Ireland Leaning Local 

According to the Charities Regulator’s Public Attitudes Towards Ireland’s Charity Sector report (2024-2025), nearly one in two donors in Ireland are now giving to local charities, a significant increase from previous years. This suggests a growing sense of connection to grassroots causes—perhaps a response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, economic pressures or a heightened awareness of local needs. 

At the same time, trust remains the most critical factor in the decision to give, though it's slipped slightly from previous years. Encouragingly, fewer people now report a decline in their trust in charities compared to 2022. The main concerns continue to be around transparency—specifically, how money is used and what portion is spent on administration. 

The Regulator’s findings also show that cost-of-living pressures have impacted giving amounts, with fewer people donating money or goods. However, a consistent 20% of the population continues to give time through volunteering, underlining a resilient commitment to community. 

 

How Ireland Measures Up in the Global Context  

The CAF World Giving Report 2025 adds a global perspective. In Ireland, 67% of people gave money to charities, while 14% gave directly to individuals or families in need, and 19% contributed to religious organisations or causes. These figures place Ireland among the more generous nations, especially within Europe, where average giving lags well behind continents like Africa and Asia. 

CAF’s global data highlights a key point: generosity often stems more from perceived necessity and community connection than from sheer wealth. In fact, lower-income countries frequently top the list for donations as a percentage of income. Ireland, with its rising wealth, has an opportunity to channel more of that prosperity into thoughtful, long-term giving. 

 

Understanding the Difference Between Charity and Philanthropy 

At Philanthropy Ireland, we recognise the crucial distinction between charitable giving and philanthropy. 

  • Charitable giving is often spontaneous, reactive, and focused on immediate needs. Think of giving to a crisis appeal or supporting a local fundraiser. It is likely to address the effect of an issue, e.g., feeding a hungry child.  

  • Philanthropy, on the other hand, is typically more strategic, sustained, and driven by a long-term vision for change. It can involve planning, partnerships, and often larger-scale or systemic investments in areas like education, climate action, health, or arts and culture. It is likely to address the cause of the issue, e.g., preventing hunger. 

The recent research, while centered around charitable giving, offers useful signals for the philanthropy community. The rise in local giving and increased openness to serving as charity trustees suggests a deeper public engagement with civil society—fertile ground for growing a more intentional culture of philanthropy, including placed-based philanthropy and collaborative or pooled funds. 

 

The Path Forward for Irish Philanthropy 

Ireland still has a strong culture of generosity. But we also know that our philanthropic infrastructure needs strengthening. There is no robust national dataset that captures philanthropy trends comprehensively. That’s why, over the coming months, Philanthropy Ireland will begin releasing aggregate data from our members to provide insights into philanthropic activity—who is giving, where support is going, and what impact it's having. 

We also see a growing number of individuals, families, and businesses in Ireland with both the means and the interest to engage in philanthropy. But they need the right supports: from government policy that both acknowledges and encourages giving, to professional advisers who can guide and support strategic philanthropy, to a charity sector ready to build lasting partnerships and capitalise on the difference philanthropic funds can have over other income sources. 

Philanthropy needs to be made easier and more accessible. That means: 

  • Trusted advice for those considering philanthropic ventures. 

  • Strong, transparent charities that can absorb and use large-scale, strategic investment. 

  • Legal and fiscal frameworks that support long-term giving. 

  • A national conversation that normalises philanthropy as part of public life—not as something exclusive, but as something that is systemic and encouraged among those with the means to give. 

 

Nurturing the Ecosystem 

The impact of philanthropy is powerful, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It must be nurtured through collaboration between government, advisors, and the wider nonprofit sector. As we look to the future, we must strengthen the entire ecosystem to unlock Ireland’s full potential for strategic giving for benefit of our society. 

Charitable giving and philanthropy are two sides of the same coin—linked by a desire to help, but distinct in method and scope. If we take the insights from these latest reports seriously, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and more generous Ireland—one where every gift, large or small, has the chance to make a long-term difference. 

 

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