Swedish donations to nonprofit organizations increased in 2025, with more people giving and total contributions to Giva Sverige member organizations reaching more than SEK 12.3 billion (€1.11 billion). The figure marks a rise of SEK 100 million (€9 million) from 2024 and points to a gradual recovery in public giving after several years of economic pressure.
According to Giva Sverige, the Swedish fundraising association, 56 percent of Swedes said they had donated to a nonprofit organization in the previous six months. That is up from 53 percent the year before.
“More people want to give regularly, which is crucial for organizations’ ability to work long term in a time of major societal challenges,” said Charlotte Rydh, Secretary General (generalsekreterare) of Giva Sverige.
Swedish donations continue to grow
The latest figures show that Swedish nonprofit fundraising remains resilient despite inflation, tighter household budgets and growing demand for support from civil society organizations.
In 2024, Giva Sverige’s member organizations collected SEK 12.2 billion (€1.10 billion), a six percent increase from 2023. The 2025 total confirms that giving has continued to grow, although at a slower pace than the previous year.
The increase is not only about the total amount collected. It also reflects a broader donor base. The share of people who gave to nonprofits rose by three percentage points in one year, suggesting that more Swedes are returning to charitable giving after a period in which many households had less room for discretionary spending.
At the same time, the recovery remains uneven. Earlier data from Giva Sverige showed that the share of Swedes donating was still lower than a decade ago, when around 63 percent said they gave to nonprofit organizations.
Children’s organizations see stronger support
Organizations working with children and young people recorded one of the strongest increases. Donations and contributions to this area rose by 8 percent in 2025.
The trend suggests that donors are prioritizing causes linked to welfare, vulnerability and long-term social outcomes. In Sweden, as in other Nordic countries, nonprofit organizations often operate alongside a strong public welfare model rather than replacing it. They provide targeted support, advocacy, research funding and emergency assistance in areas where public services may not cover all needs.
This makes regular donations particularly important. Predictable giving allows organizations to plan beyond short-term campaigns and maintain services when demand rises.
Cancerfonden raises more than SEK 1 billion
The Swedish Cancer Foundation (Cancerfonden) received the largest amount among Giva Sverige’s member organizations. It raised more than SEK 1 billion (€90 million) in 2025.
Cancer research has long been one of the most visible fundraising areas in Sweden. In 2024, Cancerfonden also topped the list of organizations collecting the most money, with SEK 982 million (€88.6 million). It was followed that year by Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, the Heart-Lung Foundation and UNHCR Sweden.
Legacy giving has also become an important part of Swedish fundraising. In 2024, donations through wills amounted to SEK 2.5 billion (€225.7 million), accounting for about one fifth of the total collected by Giva Sverige’s members.
A stronger role for civil society
The rise in charitable giving in Sweden comes as the nonprofit sector faces both higher expectations and tighter financial conditions. Donors increasingly expect transparency about how money is used, while organizations must respond to social, health, humanitarian and research needs at the same time.
The debate also has a policy dimension. Sweden’s government has proposed tax relief on some corporate donations, while Giva Sverige has argued that more types of nonprofit activities should be eligible. The proposal currently focuses on organizations working with social assistance or scientific research.
For Swedish civil society, the latest figures show a sector that is still able to mobilize public trust. More people are giving, total donations are rising, and regular support is becoming more important. The open question is whether this recovery can reach younger donors and lower-income groups, where giving remains more limited.
In the wider Nordic context, Sweden’s figures underline a familiar pattern: strong welfare states do not remove the role of civil society. Instead, nonprofit organizations remain an important part of the social infrastructure, especially when crises, health needs and international emergencies require fast and sustained support.
