New Global Survey from Kiva by The Harris Poll Finds an Affordability Crisis Is Putting Everyday Giving to the Test

U.S. and UK respondents overwhelmingly identify today's financial pressures as preventing philanthropic giving, leading to an increasing demand for accessible, small-dollar contributions

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiva, the global nonprofit expanding financial access and economic opportunity, today announced the results of a new Harris Poll survey of over 3,000 adults across the United States and the United Kingdom. The study found that persistent cost-of-living pressures have created an affordability crisis, with more than 4 in 5 adults in both the U.S. (85%) and UK (86%) identifying at least one factor that has prevented them from donating, or donating more, over the past six months. Yet despite these constraints, people are still finding a way to give, with 77% of U.S. and 80% of UK adults donating money in some way during the past six months.

These findings reflect broader headwinds tracked by Giving USA, which found that even as total charitable giving reached a record $617.20 billion, giving by individuals has fallen from roughly 80% of total contributions in past decades to just 64% today, as everyday households face mounting cost-of-living pressures. 

"I'm not surprised that given the increasing cost-of-living, donors today are concerned about how their contributions are being used." said Vishal Ghotge, CEO of Kiva. "The findings show that despite tight budgets, the desire to give remains strong. People are choosing to give where they see clear impact while being realistic about how much they can contribute. To be effective, nonprofits must provide that transparency while welcoming participation at any level — be it $25 or whatever feels sustainable for a given individual"

This demand for intentionality is driving a fundamental shift in what donors expect from the organizations they support. Roughly three-quarters of adults in the U.S. (74%) and UK (76%) believe focusing on giving that produces a measurable, long-term impact is more important than focusing on immediate, short-term impact. Furthermore, about 7 in 10 adults in the U.S. (71%) and UK (69%) agree that simply writing a check to a charity does not solve an issue; donating time and connections to address the issue does.

This heightened demand for accountability comes alongside growing donor frustration with traditional fundraising models. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (72%) and two-thirds of UK adults (67%) agree that most charities focus too much on requesting donations and not enough on proving measurable, long-term impact. At the same time, global donors are identifying clear priorities for their giving, with more than two-thirds of adults in the U.S. (70%) and UK (69%) agreeing that donating to climate-impacted communities is more critical today than ever before.

As donors seek realistic alternatives to traditional check writing, the path forward is centering on accessibility, smaller-dollar contributions, and collective action. Nearly three-quarters of adults in the U.S. (74%) and UK (73%) say making smaller dollar ($25 or less) recurring donations feels more sustainable than making one large donation. In addition, 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 real secret to Kiva's model is the powerful interplay between small-dollar givers and larger philanthropic efforts," added Ghotge. "Everyday lenders provide the grassroots momentum, but larger institutional partners and major donors act as the catalyst for impact at scale. When larger capital matches and compounds those crowdfunded dollars, it creates true collective action, turning these investments into permanent economic independence." 

For more details on the global survey findings or to learn more about Kiva's model, visit kiva.org.

Survey Methodology
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. These credible intervals will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.

About Kiva
Kiva is a global nonprofit founded in 2005 with a mission to expand financial access and help underserved communities thrive. Kiva unlocks capital for borrowers through crowdfunded loans supported by individuals worldwide. Kiva partners with businesses and organizations to make an even greater impact on communities around the world, one loan at a time. Join Kiva to create a financially inclusive world, where all people hold the power to improve their lives. Over two million people have invested $2.6 billion in real dreams and real opportunities, spanning more than 90 countries and over 6 million borrowers.

Press Contact:
Julia Tisdal, The Sway Effect
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Kiva