Christian funding charity Stewardship recorded a historic year of charitable giving in 2025, with incoming donations surging 49% to a record £161 million (US $209 million), according to the organization’s annual report released Monday.
The sharp rise in "Gifts In" for the UK-based donor-advised fund was bolstered by a single, one-off donation of £32 million.
The funding surge allowed the charity to increase its "Grants Out" by 26% to £134 million, distributing money across 12,000 churches, charities, and Christian worker partners. For the first time in the organization's history, the total number of individual grants topped 1 million, representing a 5% increase year-over-year.
Stewardship reported that its grant payout rate reached 68% in 2025 - a new record that officials noted is more than double the UK average for donor-advised funds. The charity's total assets grew 15% to £248 million.
"In a season when many churches and charities are navigating real pressures, it has been deeply encouraging to witness the resilience of our donors and the extraordinary impact of the ministries they support," Janie Oliver, CEO of Stewardship, said in a statement.
"Behind every number is a story: a church worker sustained, a community outreach strengthened, a charity equipped, a family supported."
The annual report also highlighted growth across the group's professional services. Revenue for church and charity consultancy services rose 6% to £1.5 million, while its payroll bureau service grew 9% to £600,000.
Stewardship’s accounts examination client base grew 5% to a record 527 clients, generating £700,000 in revenue.
Additionally, the charity reported £5.9 million in investment gains, utilizing its "Kingdom Impact Bull’s Eye Investment Approach" to align investments with Christian values and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Such aligned investments grew by £1.5 million, accounting for 29% of Stewardship's total assets.
The organization also expanded its outreach in 2025, adding nearly 900 new partners and launching a monthly podcast titled Active Generosity. Its annual Lent fundraising campaign, 40acts, drew more than 43,000 participants and brought in £300,000 in one-off gifts.
