A quiet tailwind for Catholic fundraising in the UK and Ireland

By Harvey Duthie, Belmont Fundraising Ltd., 6 March 2026

When I wrote earlier this year that 2026 would be a pivotal year for Catholic diocesan fundraising in the UK and Ireland, I sensed momentum building. In the months since, that sense has only strengthened.

Across the UK and Ireland there are quiet but important tailwinds emerging for Catholic parishes and causes. Not dramatic ones. But real ones. And they matter.

Part of the reason is that the wider fundraising landscape is changing in ways that increasingly favour organisations with strong communities, clear values and long-term donor relationships. The Catholic Church possesses all three.

The data is starting to move

After years of decline, Mass attendance has begun edging upward again, especially in parts of the UK. It remains below pre-pandemic levels, but the direction of travel is positive. More interesting still is what is happening among younger Catholics.

Recent research suggests church attendance among 18–24-year-olds has risen in recent years, with Catholics forming a growing share of those attending. Youth participation is often the earliest signal of longer-term renewal.

Some dioceses are already seeing the impact. In our work with the Diocese of Westminster, a forthcoming webinar will highlight 5,600 young people participating in retreats through their diocesan programmes. Numbers like this would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. When formation is strong and leadership is confident, young people respond.

The wider giving landscape is also shifting

At the same time, the macro trends in philanthropy are becoming clearer.

The latest CAF UK Giving Report estimates that total charitable giving in the UK reached £15.4 billion last year. Fewer people are giving, but those who remain engaged are giving more. The average monthly donation has risen to £72.

This concentration of giving is significant. Major donors, committed parish communities and high-trust institutions are increasingly shaping where philanthropic capital flows.

High-net-worth individuals now contribute nearly £8 billion annually to UK charities.

Foundations distributed more than £8.2 billion in grants last year alone, with the largest 200 foundations accounting for the vast majority of that funding.

At the same time, many foundations report a 100–400 percent increase in grant applications, reflecting the intense pressure across the wider charity sector.

Against this backdrop, organisations with strong identity, community trust and clear mission are increasingly well positioned. The Catholic Church is one of them.

A generational transfer of wealth is approaching

Another powerful structural trend is the intergenerational transfer of wealth. Over the coming decades trillions of pounds will pass between generations across Europe and the UK.

Legacy giving is expected to play a growing role in charitable income as part of this shift. For institutions with deep historic roots, long-standing supporters and multigenerational communities, the potential is significant. Catholic parishes and dioceses have precisely this profile.

How people give is evolving

Methods of giving are also changing. Digital giving, contactless donations and online appeals have expanded rapidly since the pandemic.

For many dioceses this is prompting long overdue investment in systems, donor stewardship and structured fundraising programmes.

Leadership is shifting too

Across the Church there is also quiet institutional renewal underway. In recent months, several new bishops have been appointed.

Many dioceses are now:

• Investing in fundraising teams

• Upgrading systems

• Introducing structured giving programmes

• Beginning, albeit gradually, the rollout of fundraising at greater scale

None of this happens quickly. But the direction is clear. The Church is moving towards a more intentional culture of philanthropy.

This is why Belmont Fundraising is excited to sponsor the Catholics in Fundraising conference this year. Gatherings like this matter, because they bring together the leaders shaping the future of Catholic fundraising across the UK and Ireland.

A moment worth paying attention to

The Church has had difficult years. No one pretends otherwise. But there are also signs of renewal:

• Mass attendance stabilising

• Youth participation growing

• New leadership emerging

• Investment in fundraising growing

At the same time, the wider philanthropic environment is evolving. Giving is concentrating among committed donors. Foundations are becoming more influential. Legacy income is set to grow. Digital giving is expanding.

Individually, these signals are modest. Taken together, they suggest something more significant.

After more than twenty years working with Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools and charities across the UK and internationally, I believe the conditions for stronger Catholic fundraising are quietly aligning. The signals are subtle. But the direction is increasingly clear.

If you have not yet got your ticket, for the Catholics in Fundraising 2026 conference, click on the link below, and we look forward to seeing you in London on 9^th June: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/catholics-in-fundraising/catholics-in-fundraising-2026-conference/e-mjlrba.