New report · November 2026
The state of virtual challenges 2026
What charity challenge teams told us about their year, and what our UK data shows from January to September. With benchmarks to hold your own challenges up against.
- Seven findings, each with its chart and what to do about it
- Benchmarks for page creation, activation and £ raised per registration
- A first look at October, the biggest month of 2026 so far
First shared at a JustGiving webinar with Prostate Cancer Research, November 2026.
Free PDF, 21 pages.
You’ll go straight to the download page, and we’ll email you the link too.
Used by 400+ charities in 16 countries
Seven things we found
Free to read here. The report has the chart behind each finding and what to do about it.
A look inside
78% of charities we surveyed said turning leads into fundraisers was their biggest challenge in 2026
67% saw the average raised per fundraiser go up compared with 2025
£88 raised per registration on average, from £7 in the weakest challenge to £256 in the best
85% of registrants created a fundraising page, up from 81% in 2025
£101 raised per JustGiving page created, against £78 per Facebook page
£151 raised per registration by ride challenges, the most of any challenge type
£2.95m raised by UK challenges in October, the biggest month of 2026 so far
Sources: GivePanel virtual challenges pulse survey, October 2026. GivePanel platform data, UK challenges with more than 100 registrations, January to September 2026. October figure: GivePanel platform data, all UK challenges, October 2026.
“The shift from volume to value.”
From a charity’s virtual challenges team, asked what surprised them most in 2026. Raising more from every registration is the thread through the whole report.
Try it with your numbers
Where do your challenges sit?
Move the sliders to match your last challenge and see how it compares with UK challenges from January to September 2026.
The full report covers every step from sign-up to active fundraiser, and what the strongest challenges do differently.
Get the full report →Nothing you enter is saved. GivePanel platform data, UK challenges with more than 100 registrations, January to September 2026.
Inside the report
The survey
- The biggest challenges charities faced in 2026, and what had the most impact on results.
- Volume to value: how conversion, activation and £ per fundraiser moved.
- In their own words: what surprised challenge teams this year.
The data
- Benchmarks for every step from sign-up to active fundraiser.
- JustGiving and Facebook compared, page by page.
- Timing and challenge type: the big months and the activities that raise most.
Planning for 2027
- What you can afford per lead at different conversion rates.
- October: a first look at the biggest month so far.
- Six things to try in your 2027 challenges.
Who it’s for
For anyone looking back at this year’s challenges and planning next year’s.
- Fundraising, events and digital teams running virtual challenges: see where your last challenge sits against UK benchmarks.
- Heads of fundraising setting 2027 targets: base them on real conversion and income figures.
- Agencies and consultants who work with charities on challenges: benchmarks to use in planning and pitches.
More on virtual challenges
The Virtual Challenge Playbook: set up, recruit for and steward your next challengeGet the playbook →
The JustGiving webinar where we first shared these findingsWatch on demand →
Case study: Brain Tumour ResearchRead the case study →Questions about the report
Yes. Fill in the short form and you’ll go straight to the download page. We’ll email you the link as well.
A pulse survey of virtual challenge teams at charities we work with, run in October 2026, and GivePanel platform data for UK challenges with more than 100 registrations, January to September 2026.
Our benchmarks page is updated every quarter with rolling twelve-month figures. This report looks at January to September 2026 only, so some numbers differ.
We’ll email you the link to the report and a few follow-up emails about putting it to use. Our news, guides and event invites only come if you tick the box on the form, and you can unsubscribe from those at any time. Our privacy notice explains how we use your details.
Plan 2027 with the numbers
Get the free report for the full findings, the benchmarks and six things to try in your 2027 challenges.
We first shared these findings at a JustGiving webinar with Prostate Cancer Research on 5 November 2026. Watch it on demand →