Cii to Launch 2026 Fundraising Benchmark: The State of Fundraising in Ireland

Charities Institute Ireland will launch The Irish Fundraising Sector in 2026 at a special member event in The Dean Hotel, Dublin, on Wednesday, 21 October.

Following Cii’s inaugural fundraising benchmarking study in 2025, this year’s research goes significantly further — combining detailed benchmarking from Cii members with analysis of the wider Irish charity market and comparisons with fundraising organisations in the UK.

Prepared for Cii by AAW Group and the HX Consultancy, the research provides one of the most detailed pictures yet of how Irish charities are raising funds, where they are investing, the capacity of their fundraising teams and where the greatest opportunities for future growth may lie.

A first look at the findings

The scale of charitable fundraising in Ireland is substantial. The research finds that Irish charities generated €1.64 billion in voluntary income in 2024, an increase of 10.7% on the previous year. Bequests were one of the fastest-growing areas, reaching approximately €110 million — up 40% in a single year.

The 2026 Cii benchmark itself includes 139 organisations, representing approximately 43% of all Irish charity voluntary income. 

But some of the most interesting findings sit beneath those headline numbers.

The research points to a fundraising sector where scale, investment and capacity are closely connected. Larger organisations tend not only to employ bigger fundraising teams, but also to generate substantially more income per fundraiser. At the same time, many specialist fundraising functions remain very lightly staffed, particularly among smaller and mid-sized charities.

There are also striking differences between fundraising streams. In-year returns are particularly strong in areas including legacies, trusts and foundations and major donors, while areas such as individual giving, community fundraising and events typically require greater investment to generate income. The report also cautions against viewing ROI in isolation, particularly where investment made today may deliver income over several years.

One of the clearest opportunities identified by the research is legacy fundraising. While bequest income is growing, the benchmark suggests the future pipeline remains relatively thin, with many organisations recruiting few or no new legacy pledgers during the year.

The research also highlights ongoing challenges around donor acquisition, retention, skills and data capacity. More than half of respondents reported rising acquisition costs, while two-thirds identified gaps in fundraising skills or experience. Dedicated data and analytical capability also remains limited in many organisations.

What can Ireland learn from the UK?

For the first time, the research provides deeper comparisons between Irish fundraising organisations and similarly sized charities in the UK.

The findings suggest that Irish organisations perform broadly in line with UK charities across many fundraising streams. However, important differences emerge around areas such as legacy income, fundraising capacity, donor acquisition and the deployment of specialist teams.

These comparisons will form an important part of the discussion on 21 October — not as a league table between two markets, but as an opportunity to understand where different fundraising models have developed and what Irish organisations might learn from them.

What to expect at the launch

Tobin Aldrich, Partner at AAW, and Chris Cox, Content & Communications Specialist at AAW, will take attendees through the research, examining fundraising income, investment, team capacity, productivity and effectiveness.

Following the presentation, Jane Trenaman of The HX Consultancy will moderate a panel discussion exploring what sits behind the numbers and, crucially, what they mean for fundraising leaders making decisions about future growth.

The panel will include:

• Graham Roe, Director of Marketing, Communications & Fundraising at Special Olympics, who was also a member of the research working group and will explore investment and the appropriate use of ROI.
• Sam Butler, Director of Fundraising, Communications and Business Intelligence at Saint John of God Foundation, who will bring an individual-giving perspective to questions around acquisition, retention and growth.
• Carol Casey, Director of Development at Mater Hospital Foundation, who will contribute to the discussion on fundraising leadership, capacity and organisational growth.

The aim of the launch is therefore not simply to present a set of numbers. It is to create a conversation about how the sector can use better evidence to make better decisions about people, investment, fundraising strategy and sustainable growth.

The 2026 Cii Fundraising Benchmark Launch takes place on Wednesday, 21 October at The Dean Hotel, Dublin, from 9.00am to 11.30am. Book your place here.

The event is particularly relevant to fundraising leaders, senior fundraisers, CEOs and anyone responsible for fundraising strategy, investment or organisational growth within an Irish charity.