Big Give’s flagship Christmas Challenge match-funding campaign has reported raising over £57.4m in one week.
It reported that over 152,000 people donated to the 1,591 charities that took part in the seven-day campaign, which closed yesterday, the highest number in its history.
The total raised this year, which includes £25.8m in match funding, marks a 28% increase compared with the £44.7m raised for 1,267 charities in 2024.
Big Give’s “champions” contributing match funding to the campaign this year included the Reed Foundation, Childhood Trust and Julia Rausing Trust, while celebrity supporters such as Gary Lineker and Judi Dench shared their support of participating charities.
James Reed, chair of Big Give, said: “We’re immensely proud that this year’s Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest public fundraiser for a second year running.
“We set ambitious goals, but the response has surpassed our highest expectations with £57.4m raised for over 1,500 charities taking part.
“I’m deeply grateful to every donor and to our champions for doubling the difference once again.
“At a time when many charities are under immense pressure, the impact that this support will have cannot be overstated.”
Tribute to Alec Reed
Meanwhile, Big Give paid tribute to its founder Alec Reed, who launched the initiative in 2008 and died aged 91 last Tuesday, the opening day of its Christmas Campaign.
Leaving school at 16, Alec Reed founded Reed Employment in 1960, earned three doctorates, became a professor three times and was knighted in 2011 for services to business and charity.
His son James said: “For 65 years, he worked tirelessly for the company he loved, always curious and never satisfied, always seeking new ideas.
“His vision lives on through our mission to improve lives through work and through the charities he founded.”
Since 2008, across all its campaigns, Big Give has reported raising around £427m for thousands of charities, and aims to raise £1bn for good causes by 2030.
