Big Give’s third annual Arts for Impact campaign has successfully concluded, raising an impressive £3.2 million for 280 arts and culture charities delivering transformative work in communities across the UK. Over the past three years, the campaign has cumulatively raised £8.8 million, helping hundreds of charities bring arts and culture to even more communities.
The campaign, which ran from 17th to 24th March 2026, demonstrated the public’s enduring commitment to the arts despite mounting financial pressures. The initiative received over 13,500 donations, with every pound matched by Big Give’s Champion partners to double the impact for participating organisations.
The campaign was delivered by Big Give, the UK’s leading match funding platform, in partnership with Figurative Philanthropy for Arts and Culture (FPAC). Match funding was generously provided by a coalition of philanthropists and foundations, including The Reed Foundation and AKO Foundation, with public funding support from Arts Council England.
Together, the campaign enabled the public to support grassroots organisations using creativity to tackle major social challenges, from improving mental health and reducing loneliness to providing free creative education for disadvantaged young people. From 64 charities based in Greater London to 66 organisations working nationwide, the campaign’s impact will be felt across the UK, supporting projects spanning music, theatre, visual arts and heritage.
James Reed CBE, Chair of Trustees for Big Give, said: “We are delighted to have helped 280 incredibly worthwhile charities raise such essential funds. Arts charities play an important role in many communities, yet they face significant operational hurdles, not least rising costs. It is heartening to see the public respond so generously, using our match funding platform to ensure their contributions go twice as far for the causes they care about.”
Sir Vernon Ellis, FPAC Founder and Trustee of Figurative, added: “I am delighted by the success of this Arts for Impact campaign, the third such campaign organised in partnership between FPAC and Big Give. It is a powerful demonstration of how strategic philanthropy can drive real social change through culture. By championing organisations across the UK, we can help bring the wonder of arts – whether music or dance, visual arts or theatre – to more people, strengthen communities and create the kind of transformational impact that can change lives.”
Tonya Nelson, Executive Director, Enterprise and Innovation, Arts Council England, said: “It has been such a joy to support the 2026 Arts for Impact campaign. From Hastings to Stoke-on-Trent, from Bridport to Bishop Auckland, and everywhere in between, we’re proud to have boosted funding for arts and cultural organisations – especially in the communities that need it most – through the incentive of our match-funding. Congratulations to everyone involved!”
