Behind the headline figures in the Catholic Generosity Report is a closer look at how Catholics actually give. Much of that generosity takes the form of regular support for parishes and charities people have known for years. Wealthier donors want to see their money put to good use, while faith and personal relationships often shape the causes they choose.
The research also points to a long tradition of stewardship, alongside opportunities for Catholic charities to develop their fundraising and build stronger relationships with supporters.
A tradition of stewardship
Catholic teaching treats wealth as something held in trust. The Catechism puts it simply: the goods of creation are intended for the whole human race. Those who have more are expected to give more and use what they hold for the common good.
This body of teaching, known as Catholic Social Teaching, took shape in 1891 with Rerum Novarum, written by Pope Leo XIII. It is fitting that a report on Catholic generosity should be presented 135 years later to his namesake, Pope Leo XIV.
This tradition provides an important context for understanding Catholic giving today and the responsibilities that many donors associate with their wealth.
Catholics give more than the average Christian
The most recent data comes from Stewardship UK's Generosity Report, a survey of 6,000 Christian adults published in February 2026. Catholics gave an average of £136 a month, equivalent to 5.3% of their income after tax. That is above the average across all denominations of £116 and well above the figure for Anglicans, who give around 3% of their income.
The survey also highlights the relationship between teaching and generosity. Among Christians who trust their church "a lot", 77% recalled hearing teaching on generosity in the previous year. Among those with less trust, the figure was around 35%.
Younger Christians and those from ethnic minority backgrounds give a larger share of their income than average. Both groups make up a growing share of the UK's Catholic community, making them important audiences for charities seeking to understand how giving may develop in the years ahead.
Giving is regular and built on relationships
Catholic charities rely heavily on individual supporters. In our benchmarking survey, individuals accounted for 46% of fundraised income. Regular giving alone contributed 32%, compared with 12% among the comparison group of charities.
The 28 charities that took part have more than 80,000 regular givers between them. Each gives an average of £345 a year, or around £29 a month.
New supporters often find these charities themselves. Only 9% of new regular givers came through paid face-to-face fundraising, compared with 28% in the comparison group. More than half came through websites and other unpaid digital routes, with a further 17% recruited by email.
Existing supporters also respond well when asked to give. In our survey, mail appeals raised £9.5m from 829,000 letters, an average of £11.42 per letter. Returns from both mail and email appeals were above typical benchmarks for the wider sector.
These findings highlight the value of the relationships Catholic charities already have with supporters. Regular giving and effective appeals can build on that connection, providing a strong base for fundraising.
Where does Catholic charitable giving go?
Dioceses receive more than half (53%) of all donations and legacies to Catholic charities. International charities receive a further 17%.
Catholic schools have a different funding profile. They account for 31% of the sector's total income but only 2% of its voluntary income, as most of their funding comes from fees and the state.
Among the charities in our survey, education and formation, overseas development and evangelisation together account for nearly four-fifths of spending on mission. Homelessness, poverty and other UK social action account for 8%.
That is a relatively small share for a Church with a long record of service to people experiencing poverty. It raises a question about whether these causes could attract more support, particularly from donors whose priorities align with social action in the UK.
What wealthy Catholic donors told us
We interviewed a small group of wealthy Catholic donors to understand how they approach giving. Their faith influences the causes they support, including poverty, migration, hospices, prison work and parish projects. Personal connection is also important, whether through family, work, place or friendship.
Donors pay close attention to how well a charity is run. Several described Catholic charities as generous but under-organised and wanted clearer leadership on philanthropy from the Church.
One donor observed that the Church has "very little difficulty raising money" for concrete needs, such as support for retired priests or a specific parish project.
A clear, specific case for support can make a real difference.
Giving is also a private matter for many British Catholics. As one City professional told us, "It's not, I think, culturally normal to talk about giving money to things."
This may help explain why none of the charities in our survey received a personal gift of £1m or more during the year. The largest single gift from an individual was £375,000.
Most donors also keep their giving and investment decisions separate. They express their faith through philanthropy and leave investment decisions to financial advisers. Some are beginning to explore the space between the two, including backing Catholic schools and small Catholic businesses.
The interviews suggest that there is potential to develop these relationships further, provided charities can demonstrate how funds will be used and make a compelling case for support.
Gifts in wills: an opportunity for Catholic charities
The charities in our survey received around 680 legacies during the year, with an average value of £27,000.
Yet seven of the 19 charities that receive legacy income spend nothing on promoting gifts in wills. Those that do invest spend an average of £7,000 a year.
Given the value of legacies to charities across the wider sector, this looks like an area worth further attention. Changes to inheritance tax due in April 2027 also make the coming months an important time for charities to speak to supporters about gifts in wills.
For Catholic charities with long-standing relationships with their communities, legacy fundraising could provide a way to build on that connection and support their work for future generations.
Next: the road to Rome
The Catholic Generosity Report brings together evidence on a community whose giving has rarely been measured at this scale. It also highlights opportunities for Catholic charities to strengthen their fundraising, develop donor relationships and make it easier for supporters to put their generosity into practice.
In Part 3, we follow the report on its journey to the Vatican and its presentation to Pope Leo XIV.