According to CII, the survey is the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland, with participation from 176 organisations representing €1.93 billion in total income, €444m in fundraised income, and over 31,000 employees. The report provides a picture of the state of fundraising across the country and highlights both the opportunities and challenges the sector faces.

Key findings

Fundraising is driving impact
Fundraisers make up just 3.5% of total staff but are responsible for generating 23% of total income. In some sectors, particularly environmental and animal welfare, up to 82% of income is fundraised, underlining how critical fundraising is to sustainability and growth.

Skills and systems gaps are holding organisations back
While most respondents recognise the importance of data, 60% reported having only one or no staff dedicated to CRM or reporting. Many fundraisers are working without the digital tools, training, or support needed to analyse data, scale activity or innovate confidently.

AI and digital potential is high but underused
There’s strong interest in emerging technologies like AI, but adoption remains low, limited by time, training and concerns about ethics and data protection.

The sector is ambitious but needs support
Fundraisers are optimistic about growth, but making that sustainable will require investment in skills, infrastructure, and long-term capacity. We are calling on government, boards, and funders to recognise this need and support the sector accordingly, especially in line with Ireland’s Digital First strategy.

Speaking in her foreword to the report, CII CEO Áine Myler says the report marks “a critical step in closing the long-standing data gap that’s hindered smart, sector-wide fundraising strategy.”

 She continues:

“Good data isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. It shows what’s working, what’s not, and enables smarter resource allocation, stronger investment cases, and greater impact. We undertook this survey to inspire Boards to build data strategy, fundraising teams to plan, corporate partners to engage and funders to invest in ways that could make the sector even more impactful. The survey findings clearly demonstrate the need for access for the Charity sector to the same digital supports as the Business and Public sectors, in keeping with the Government’s Digital First strategy for our country.”

The report was commissioned by CII and conducted by NFP Synergy and HX Consultancy in early 2025. It marks the beginning of a multi-year research effort to build a strong evidence base for the sector and help charities benchmark performance and share learning.

Read the full report here.

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This is according to Charities Institute Ireland, which says that a member had reported receiving a phishing email claiming to offer a “significant” legacy donation.

The email claimed to be from the nephew of a recently-deceased individual in the United States, who had remembered the charity in the will. It said that the family was “disappointed” not to have received an acknowledgment of that gift, and expressed concern that the (fictional) funds might not have been transferred.

It also provided contact details for a US law firm. On inspection, the charity realised that while the law firm did indeed exist, the contact details did not match those found on its website.

The charity contacted the law firm using its real contact details, and it was confirmed that the email was not legitimate. In addition, the law firm told this charity that it had been contacted by other nonprofits who had received the same email.

Following this, the charity blocked the sender of the suspicious email and took further measures to ensure it was protected from fraud.

Charities Institute Ireland says in a statement on its website:

“It is crucial to independently verify the authenticity of such communications. Charities should cross-check contact details provided in suspicious emails and, if necessary, directly reach out to the alleged parties using verified and publicly available information. By staying vigilant and adopting stringent verification measures, charities can safeguard themselves against potential scams and fraudulent activities, ultimately preserving the trust and integrity of the charitable sector.”

‘Protecting your charity from cybercrime’, a guide published by Ireland’s Charities Regulator in 2020, says:

“Remember the basic principle that if you are contacted with an offer which sounds too good to be true, unfortunately there’s a strong chance that it is, so take your time and do your research before you commit.”

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Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, the documentary film challenges longstanding preconceptions about how the charity sector is resourced, and features actor and founder of Crowdrise Ed Norton, among others. It is inspired by the work of Dan Pallotta, who has led the charge in redefining how charity sector finances are thought about – particularly overhead costs.

Pallotta argues that charities are often praised for minimizing their expenses, but that this approach can hinder their overall impact. As such, he urges a shift in mindset to recognize and reward charities for their goals and achievements, even if it means greater spend, with the film invites viewers to reconsider how we approach effecting change on a global scale.

Speaking ahead of the screening, Áine Myler, CEO of Charities Institute Ireland, commented:

“Charities play an indispensable role in our community and economy. According to a recent report by the Charities Regulator, 1 in 8 adults in Ireland are employed in the sector (281,000), and one in five Irish adults (648,000) volunteer in some capacity, including 46,000 charity trustees. It’s evident that the effective, efficient operation of these services, in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, is to the advantage of everyone involved.

“Regrettably, misunderstandings about the functioning of charities, combined with insufficient funding and misguided criticisms of overhead costs, have led to a situation where many charities are underinvesting in essential areas. We believe it is now vital to unite and discuss how we can shift this narrative.

“We are thrilled to convene this gathering to deliberate and discuss this critical issue, collaborating to do what we excel at – addressing complex social problems and aiding those in need.”

Almost 200 people attended the screening, which was followed by a panel discussion with experts from both the business and nonprofit sectors. The panellists offered their insights and views on the film and the broader charitable sector, encouraging attendees to consider how the film’s message could help transform the narrative for Irish charities.

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This is according to a new study by Philanthropy Ireland, which argues that the philanthropy sector needs to do more to engage journalists, and to increase the amount of research, data and information it provides them with on the topic.

The report, titled What Made the News, analysed 100 major articles on philanthropy between 2013 and 2023. Of these, 28 were primarily focused on profiling or honouring philanthropists.

There was significantly more focus on corporate donations and wealthy individuals, as opposed to other forms of giving such as grassroots philanthropy, the report says. In addition, articles generally lacked “analysis of the impact of philanthropic activities on Irish society”, as well as transparency around how donations are used.

What Made the News also says that while philanthropy in Ireland continues to grow, there is a “lack of public awareness and understanding” of philanthropy and its impact, as well as of data around this topic.

It adds:

“Given these challenges, there is a growing need for greater attention to be paid to the role and impact of philanthropy in Ireland. One way to do this is through media reporting, which can help to raise awareness of philanthropic initiatives, develop an understanding around philanthropy, and highlight the impact of philanthropy on society.” 

The report ends with recommendations for the charity sector. These include engaging more with journalists and providing them with more data and information on philanthropy’s impact, and trends in the sector. It also calls for more transparency around causes and organisations supported, as well as doing more to highlight diverse voices and perspectives.

Mirroring those recommendations, it also gives suggestions for journalists, such as “emphasise the positive impact it [philanthropy] is having on society”; highlight the contributions of minority groups and under-represented communities; and “create more opportunities for philanthropists and nonprofit leaders to speak directly to the media about their work, challenges, and successes”.

These proposals are the subject of a consultation by the country’s Department of Rural and Community Development, which runs until 30 June.

Once finalised, the policy will begin in 2023 and operate for an initial five years, with a group chaired by the Government publishing annual updates and data on its implementation.

Five goals

Among the policy’s five objectives are “increase awareness of the value of philanthropic giving”, including through a national communications campaign and annual awareness event; and “activate strategies for collection and utilisation of data and research to inform and guide decision making in philanthropy”.

The section on data notes that while there are already several sources of data and knowledge relating to philanthropy, “there is a lack of integration, coordination and trending analysis, leading to significant data gaps when seeking a full understanding of the philanthropic sector in Ireland”.

Another objective is to create an “enabling environment and culture for Irish philanthropy to thrive and maximise its potential to benefit society”. This could include tax incentives, as well as encouraging professionals such as tax advisers and accountants to discuss philanthropy as an option with their clients.

The final two objectives are improving collaboration between Government, nonprofits and other relevant stakeholders, and building capacity in the nonprofit sector. This final objective will ensure that philanthropists can have confidence that their donations will have a meaningful social impact.

EFA member Charities Institute Ireland has been part of a National Advisory Group created to develop the policy.

The institute’s chief operating officer Scott Kelley is urging charities to respond to the consultation, calling the new policy an “incredible opportunity”, and says:

“The development of this National Philanthropy Policy in collaboration with key stakeholders is a significant step towards fostering a more just Ireland and positively impacting the lives of many. It will provide a framework for philanthropy, government, and beneficiaries to work collaboratively and effectively, creating an environment where philanthropy can grow and thrive.

“This policy will set clear objectives and specific actions to enable philanthropy to flourish, supporting the knowledge and capacity development of the sector while identifying the necessary support systems for its maximum potential.”

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But the market is still smaller than a number of other legacy markets in Europe, according to the latest Legacy Insights Ireland report, from consultancy Campaign Solutions.

The report identifies a total of €87.2m verified legacy income for charities and religious organisations in Ireland in 2021, up from €34.6m in the report’s first year (2015).

This increase is mostly due to improved data, with the researchers saying that legacy income data is unavailable for many of the country’s nonprofits, in particular religious bodies, universities and independent schools. As such, the actual total figure for 2021 is likely to be higher than €100m.

But it also shows that legacy fundraising is “clearly growing” in the country; looking only at the nonprofits it was possible to include in the report in both years, legacy income has increased by 40% from 2016 to 2021.

The median legacy income for Irish nonprofits in 2021 was €93,214, up from €81,476 in 2020. The (mean) average total was €312,702 – down from €426,829 in 2020, but much closer to the €312,530 figure for 2019.

The report says that 21 organisations received more than €1m in legacy income in 2021, up from 16 in 2017. Meanwhile, “minimal, or even zero legacy income” is received by sports clubs, or by organisations in the arts & culture, environment and LGBTQ+ areas.

International comparisons

Legacy Insights Ireland shows that in Ireland in 2021, 5.1% of the sector’s fundraised income was through legacies. The figure was more than 19% in the UK, 11% in France, 11% in Switzerland, 10% in Belgium, 10% in the USA and 7.9% in the Netherlands. However, Ireland is ahead of Spain (4.9%), New Zealand (4%) and Germany (1.8%).

The report says:

“This seems to be the moment for legacy in Ireland. Charities are increasingly recognising and appreciating its importance – and potential. For many countries, legacy income is the only growing fundraising source. It is clear that legacy income can increase significantly in Ireland in the coming years and decades also.”

The report also notes that 2017 was an exceptional year for legacy giving in Ireland, when little-known, orphaned millionaire Elizabeth O’Kelly left €30m in her will to five charities.

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The figures are based on Donor Pulse Ireland, a survey of 1,016 Irish citizens by donations, fundraising and events platform Enthuse.

According to the research, the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on Irish people. 38% of those questioned donated to charities providing humanitarian support on the ground in the Ukraine, while a further 23% donated to charities supporting Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland. Of those that made donations to charity in the past three months, just over one in five donated money solely to Ukrainian causes.

Aside from the war in Ukraine, some of the most prominent causes to resonate with Irish people in the last three months were local community charities, mental health support services, homelessness, children’s charities, and cancer research.

Motivating factors

The three most commonly cited reasons for donating to charity were moral duty, the continued media coverage of humanitarian crises, including the war in Ukraine, and a friend, family member or individual having personally benefited from the charity’s services.

Commenting on the research, Enthuse’s Ireland Country Lead, Luke Dixon, said:

“Historically, the Irish have been known for their generosity and this has been borne out in how quickly the public have mobilised to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Despite inflationary pressures, there is a renewed appetite among Irish adults to get involved in fundraising activities in 2022, which will come as welcome news to charities.

“Interestingly, over half (55%) of Irish adults made online donations in the past three months, but one in three of these cannot recall the name of the charity they donated to. Tellingly, average donations were 64% higher when through the charity’s own website, versus consumer giving platforms. This suggests the need for charities to do more to connect their brand with the causes they represent, and to look at how they can nurture longer term relationships with those that ultimately fund their services.”

Cost of living the top concern

The survey also looked at what issues might be impacting Irish households in 2022 and whether these are affecting their likelihood to donate. 80% of those questioned cited the rising cost of living as their top concern for 2022. In comparison, only 11% referenced Covid.

However, despite this economic backdrop, nearly two in five (38%) stated that they were more likely to give to charity today than they were three months previously.

Exactly half of those surveyed also said their attitude to charities had remained unchanged, while only 8% said they were less likely to give money to charity than before.

The research was published to mark the launch of the company’s new Irish operations, based in Dublin. Enthuse’s Donor Pulse research tracks changing consumer habits and attitudes to charity and fundraising on a quarterly basis, and this is its first report for Ireland.

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€289 million was sent to the Exchequer to be used by good causes. This is a 14% increase on the previous year and a record figure since Irish National Lottery operator Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) received its licence in 2014.

Under the terms of the National Lottery license, almost 30 cents from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is directed to good causes. Areas covered include sport and recreation, national culture and heritage (including the Irish language), the arts, the health of the community, youth, welfare and amenities, and the natural environment.

Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) CEO Áine Myler said:

“Receiving a grant has a positive effect on many charities to deliver new projects, and means core services are maintained.”

Also commenting on the development, The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath added:

“The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs. 

“It is absolutely critical that members of the public and those who play the National Lottery are fully aware of how this funding is accessed and distributed to good causes, to the benefit of local communities. €6 billion has been raised for good causes since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.”

Cii is currently working with a consultancy firm commissioned by the government to undertake a review of how National Lottery funding is distributed in Ireland, with a new and transparent funding model expected to be introduced later in 2022, once the report has been published.

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In the latest budget announcement, the Irish government has confirmed that its pilot VAT compensation scheme will be continued, but that the limited funding pot will not be increased. This has led to the Irish charity sector voicing disappointment with the limitations of the scheme.

With applications for VAT compensation being eight times greater than the funding pot, Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) had lobbied government not only to keep the scheme in place but to raise the current €5m fund to €20m, enabling more nonprofit organisations to access VAT compensation.

Chair of Charities Institute Ireland, Lisa Nicole Dunne, says:

“We are disappointed that the €5m cap has not been raised. Charities are not only recovering from the impact of Covid on fundraising, and on their own teams, they’re coping with greater demand on vital services. Increasing the VAT compensation scheme would have been a significant boost and provided additional security to the sector to help them support communities to deliver those vital services.” 

Understanding Ireland’s VAT compensation scheme

Ireland’s VAT compensation scheme was introduced on a trial basis in 2018 after a successful sector lobbying campaign to alleviate the tax burden for nonprofits. The scheme allows charitable organisations to claim a refund of a proportion of their eligible VAT costs from a €5m funding pot.

Last month, the Irish government announced that the scheme, initially a 3-year programme (2018-2020) and retained for 2021, would be extended once more to the end of 2022.

Changes in 2022

Next year, new safeguards will be introduced and this is a step that Cii welcomes. From January 2022, a maximum eligible claim ceiling of €1m will be introduced, to guard against large claims disproportionately benefiting from the scheme.

Cii will continue to petition for the compensation scheme to be extended and increased in next year’s budget.

Find out more about the Irish compensation scheme here.

Highlighting the diversity of Ireland’s charity and community sector, We Act spokesperson Sarah Monaghan said:

“The COVID-19 crisis brought a renewed public focus on the work of our sector. From support lines for older people to laptops for children in emergency accommodation, when we saw a need in our communities, we responded to it. The pandemic demonstrated that – in times of real need – charities and community groups are at the forefront of our national response.

“We saw a shift in values towards equality, justice and supports for the most vulnerable in our communities and across the globe. Now, there needs to be a concentrated effort to ensure the innovation, goodwill and community cohesion continues as we recover from the pandemic.”

Public recognition of vital role of charities

Although people in Ireland recognise the vital role of charities on lives in their community, few recall interacting with a charity or community group in recent times. A survey of 1,000 people in Ireland*, conducted by nfpSynergy on behalf of the We Act campaign, found that 7 in 10 people believe that the lives of people in their communities would be impacted if charities disappeared overnight. And yet, fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) believe they interacted with a charity or community group in the past year.

Almost two thirds (63%) of people have given to a charity or community group in the last three months. The majority (62%) think charities are more likely to be responsive in their services than the public sector, but little over half (54%) think staff in the charity sector should be paid similarly to those in the public sector.Despite the fact that board members in both large and small charities are unpaid volunteers, over 4 in 10 people believe those who serve on charity boards are paid a salary.

The survey also reveals a lack of understanding about the breadth of the sector. While 7 in 10 people understand that a homelessness organisation is a charity, only 1 in 10 think an arts organisation is a charity.

Commenting on the findings, Ms. Monaghan adds:

“We know from the incredible support during the pandemic that people in Ireland have a huge affinity for good causes and we can see from the research that they understand the role some charities have in providing vital services. However, a majority of the public feel that charity is for someone else – and this campaign wants to celebrate the wide breadth of groups who have an impact on our lives every single day – even if we don’t realise it.

“We hope that a better understanding of the benefits of charitable work and volunteering will drive community and voluntary action in communities across Ireland, which will help drive the post-pandemic recovery.”

Next Steps for We Act

The We Act campaign will run over the next three years across Ireland with a view to addressing the challenges uncovered in the research. It aims to support the growth of vibrant and sustainable community life, strengthen the charity and community sector and encourage more people to engage and participate in the sector by volunteering, working, and donating. The campaign is managed by a coalition of charities and community groups, led by Boardmatch, Charities Institute Ireland, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Dóchas, The Wheel and Volunteer Ireland.

The campaign is funded through a grant from RTÉ Does Comic Relief, which is distributed by The Community Foundation for Ireland.