Positive experiences of public fundraising are increasing in the UK, according to 2026 public opinion research from the Fundraising Regulator, carried out by Opinium among more than 3,000 UK adults. Of those who had encountered public fundraising, 42% described their experience as positive, up from 30% in 2023. Positive experiences of door-to-door fundraising also increased, from 17% to 27%. These findings suggest encouraging progress for public fundraising and highlight the importance of positive fundraising experiences in building public trust, strengthening supporter relationships and encouraging future charitable giving.
The latest public opinion research carried out by the Fundraising Regulator gives us plenty to reflect on. But there’s one finding in particular that should give charities engaging in public fundraising real cause for encouragement.
The research, carried out by Opinium among more than 3000 UK adults, found that positive experiences of public fundraising have increased by 12% since the previous research in 2023 – and positive experiences of door-to-door fundraising have risen by 10%.
Whether on the street, at private sites, or on people’s doorsteps, public fundraising is one of the most visible forms of fundraising. The more visible something is, the more open it is to criticism so to see reported positive experiences increasing is significant progress for the sector.
It’s worth noting that while the Chartered Institute of Fundraising uses public fundraising as an umbrella term for street, private site and door-to-door, for this research the Fundraising Regulator considered public fundraising as street and private site, with door-to-door separated out.
This latest research indicates that 42% of people who had encountered public fundraising described their experience as positive, compared with 30% in the previous research. Crucially, this means the balance is shifting – and we hope to continue moving in this positive direction.
Door-to-door fundraising has further to go, with 27% of respondents reporting a positive experience – but this is marked improvement from 17% in the earlier research. We are working closely with our members to explore the ways we can improve door-to-door fundraising outcomes, both for charities and the public. That includes looking at how we can create the gold standard for charitable fundraising, better monitor door-to-door and ensure the safety of fundraisers working in these more isolated roles.
Our recently updated public fundraising Rule Books and on-demand face-to-face learning modules, developed in consultation with our members, are part of this ongoing work.
This progress matters not just for the reputation of individual fundraising methods, but because of the relationship between fundraising experiences and future charitable support. The Fundraising Regulator found a strong link between having a positive experience and being more likely to support charities in the future.
Every day fundraisers are out in the communities, talking to people about causes, answering questions and inspiring new supporters.
For all of our members engaging in public fundraising, these conversations matter. Because it’s about much more than securing a donation – it creates a human connection between a cause and a potential supporter, and that is something that is particularly valuable in an increasingly digital world.
Public fundraising delivers vital income. Last year our public fundraising benchmarking report found that people recruited through face-to-face fundraising during 2024 were projected to give £50 million in their first 12 months of giving alone. Regular giving generated through this method of fundraising can provide charities with dependable income, helping them plan their services and impact longer-term.
This is why it is crucial for charities to view fundraising as central to everything they do – while it requires investment upfront, its returns should be considered over the lifetime of the relationships it creates.
Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done. But the direction of travel is encouraging. Public fundraising works because of the people who do it well: fundraisers who listen, respect boundaries and represent causes with professionalism and passion.
Read the full report from the Fundraising Regulator and Opinium
