Corporate Spotlight: What Businesses Are Looking for in a Charity Partner in 2026

Over the last decade, the world has changed dramatically. Economic uncertainty, the lasting effects of the pandemic, and rising costs have reshaped how we live, work, spend and give.

At the same time, demand for charitable support has increased significantly. Many charities have become a vital lifeline for families facing financial hardship, health challenges and social inequality. Yet despite this growing need, charitable giving has declined.

According to research from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), there are now six million fewer charity donors than there were ten years ago. The proportion of people donating to charity has fallen from 69% to 55%, resulting in an estimated £12.4 billion reduction in charitable donations over the last decade.

As individual giving becomes more selective, businesses are playing an increasingly important role in supporting charities through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programmes, and strategic charity partnerships.

What Companies Want from Their CSR Partnerships

Modern businesses are looking for more than opportunities to make donations. They want meaningful partnerships with charities that align with their values, engage their employees and deliver measurable impact.

Today's organisations are increasingly seeking:

Employee Engagement Opportunities
Businesses want employees to actively participate in making a difference through volunteering days, fundraising challenges, skills-based volunteering and community projects. These opportunities help strengthen workplace culture while creating positive social impact.

Measurable Social Impact
Companies need evidence that their investment is making a tangible difference. Charities that can demonstrate outcomes, share success stories and provide clear reporting are often preferred partners.

Local Community Impact
Many organisations want to support causes that benefit the communities where their employees, customers and offices are based. Local impact helps businesses create authentic connections and demonstrate their commitment to their region.

Skills-Based Partnerships
Professional expertise can be just as valuable as financial support. Businesses increasingly look for opportunities to share skills, knowledge and resources that can help charities grow and improve their services.

Employee Wellbeing and Purpose
Employees want to work for organisations that contribute positively to society. Supporting a children's charity or local cause can improve employee satisfaction, wellbeing and retention while fostering a shared sense of purpose.

Long-Term Strategic Relationships
Rather than making one-off donations, many businesses are choosing multi-year charity partnerships that create lasting impact and allow deeper engagement with the causes they support.

Key Corporate Social Responsibility Trends for 2026

1. Greater Scrutiny of Impact
Businesses want clear evidence that their support is changing lives. Demonstrating outcomes, reporting progress and sharing beneficiary stories have become essential components of successful charity partnerships.

2. Focus on Mutual Value
The most successful CSR partnerships deliver benefits for both parties. Companies are looking for opportunities that support their employee engagement, recruitment, retention and reputation goals while helping charities achieve their mission.

3. Stronger Focus on Local Communities
Businesses increasingly want to demonstrate their impact within the communities they serve. Supporting local families and sharing regional success stories helps create a more meaningful and credible narrative.

How Corporate Giving Has Changed Over the Last Decade

Ten years ago, many corporate charity partnerships centred around financial donations in exchange for recognition or sponsorship opportunities.

Today, businesses want to be part of the story. Companies are looking for opportunities to engage employees, participate in fundraising activities, volunteer their expertise and see first-hand the difference their support is making. They want access to meaningful data, measurable outcomes and compelling stories that demonstrate genuine impact.

For charities, this presents an opportunity to build stronger, more collaborative relationships with corporate supporters.

Why Partner with Tree of Hope?
Tree of Hope helps families across the UK raise funds for life-changing medical treatment, therapy, specialist equipment and support for seriously ill and disabled children.

By partnering with Tree of Hope, businesses can support a trusted children's charity while delivering meaningful outcomes through their CSR and ESG programmes.

Measurable Outcomes
Demonstrating impact is at the heart of everything we do. We help companies understand exactly how their support is making a difference by measuring:

• The speed at which fundraising campaigns reach their targets

• How quickly children can access treatment as a result of raised funds

• The long-term impact that treatment, therapy and specialist support have on a child's quality of life

Real Stories, Real Impact
We provide corporate partners with Portraits of Hope, family testimonials and progress updates that demonstrate the direct impact of their support. These stories help businesses engage employees, communicate their social impact and celebrate the difference they are making to children's lives.

Employee Participation Opportunities
Tree of Hope offers a variety of ways for employees to get involved, including:

• Fundraising events and challenges

• Community volunteering opportunities

• Skills-based volunteering and professional support

• Educational sessions and family support initiatives

These activities help create meaningful employee engagement while supporting families who need it most.

National Reach with Local Impact
Tree of Hope supports families across the UK, enabling businesses of all sizes to make a difference nationally while still demonstrating local impact.

We can help identify opportunities that align with your locations, workforce and CSR objectives, providing regional reporting where appropriate.

Looking for a Children's Charity Partner?
Whether you are searching for a Charity of the Year partner, looking to strengthen your Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, or seeking meaningful employee engagement opportunities, Tree of Hope can help.

We work with businesses across the UK to create tailored partnerships that deliver measurable impact for children and families while supporting your CSR and ESG goals.

To find out more about becoming a corporate partner, contact partnerships@treeofhope.org.uk or complete our contact form. We'd love to discuss how we can work together to change children's lives.