Kiva Survey Shows Giving Shift Amid Financial Pressures

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Kiva, the global nonprofit expanding financial access and economic opportunity, has released the findings of a new Harris Poll survey, which reveals a significant shift in the way people give to charity. The survey, conducted from August 28 to September 1, 2026, involved over 3,000 adults across the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of respondents, 85% in the U.S. and 86% in the UK, identified financial pressures as a barrier to philanthropic giving. Despite these challenges, 77% of U.S. and 80% of UK adults reported making some form of monetary donation over the past six months. This indicates that while financial constraints are a reality, people are still finding ways to contribute.

The data also highlights a broader trend in the charitable sector. Giving USA reported that total charitable giving reached a record $617.20 billion in 2025. However, individual giving has fallen from approximately 80% of total contributions in past decades to just 64% today, as everyday households face mounting cost-of-living pressures.

The survey underscores a growing demand for intentionality in giving. Three-quarters of U.S. (74%) and UK (73%) adults believe that focusing on giving that produces a measurable, long-term impact is more important than focusing on immediate, short-term impact. Additionally, about 70% of U.S. and UK adults agree that donating to climate-impacted communities is more critical today than ever before.

The survey also revealed that donors are seeking more accessible and smaller-dollar contributions. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. (74%) and UK (73%) adults say making smaller dollar ($25 or less) recurring donations feels more sustainable than making one large donation. Moreover, roughly 3 in 5 adults in the U.S. (58%) and UK (60%) say contributing through a group donation feels more impactful than giving alone.

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Kiva from August 28 to September 1, 2026, among 2,019 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and 1,001 UK adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For the U.S. study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For the UK study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.4 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.