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Virtual Challenge Fundraising Benchmarks

Q3 2026 · Next edition January 2027

Activation and fundraising: Q3 2026

41.6% Average activation rate (the % of people who register and go on to fundraise)
£273 Average amount raised per Active Fundraiser

JustGiving vs Facebook: Q3 2026

JustGiving Facebook
Average activation rate Facebook — 48.1% 48.1% JustGiving — 38.6% 38.6% Average amount raised JustGiving — £300 £300 Facebook — £141 £141
Average activation rate by quarter
QuarterAll campaignsJustGivingFacebook
Q3 202641.6%38.6%48.1%
Q2 202637.8%36.7%46.3%
Q1 202640.5%42.9%56.0%
Average amount raised by quarter
QuarterAll campaignsJustGivingFacebook
Q3 2026£273£300£141
Q2 2026£250£278£139
Q1 2026£227£262£144

Average activation rate throughout the year

20% 40% 60% January — 34.6% · 11 campaigns February — 42.9% · 29 campaigns March — 40.4% · 36 campaigns April — 38.0% · 14 campaigns May — 42.2% · 31 campaigns June — 34.8% · 35 campaigns July — 38.0% · 22 campaigns August — 34.5% · 13 campaigns September — 52.6% · 36 campaigns 52.6% JanFebMar AprMayJun JulAugSep Campaign start month

Average amount raised throughout the year

£200 £400 January — £169 per Active Fundraiser February — £226 per Active Fundraiser March — £245 per Active Fundraiser April — £240 per Active Fundraiser May — £278 per Active Fundraiser June — £227 per Active Fundraiser July — £222 per Active Fundraiser August — £198 per Active Fundraiser September — £359 per Active Fundraiser £359 JanFebMar AprMayJun JulAugSep Campaign start month

Frequently asked questions

What is a good activation rate for a virtual challenge?

It’s difficult to say, because so much goes into a campaign – the cause, the audience, the challenge type, how long it runs, how hard the stewardship works and what gets spent on recruitment and advertising.

What is the activation gap?

The number or percentage of people who register for a campaign and never raise anything. They were recruited, often paid for through advertising, and then lost somewhere between signing up and starting. GivePanel exists to help close that gap between registration and fundraising.

Why do registrants not go on to fundraise?

Rarely because they changed their mind, and rarely because they never set up a page. Across these campaigns analysed on this page, the number of fundraising pages created comes to 94% of registrations, so page creation isn’t where people are lost. The gap opens between creating a page and receiving a first donation. What closes it is early and specific: a message in the first day or two telling the fundraiser exactly who to ask and what to say, then messages triggered by what each fundraiser does, or doesn’t do. GivePanel’s email triggers can target everyone still on zero, so the supporters most at risk of raising nothing get practical help instead of another general reminder.

How much does a virtual challenge fundraiser raise on average?

£273 in Q3 2026 – £300 on JustGiving and £141 on Facebook. But remember, a lot goes into these numbers!

Is JustGiving or Facebook better for virtual challenges?

They do different jobs. Facebook activates a higher share of the pages created on it – 48.1% against 38.6% – while a JustGiving fundraiser raises more than twice as much, £300 against £141. Facebook’s strength is reach and how quickly someone can start fundraising without leaving the feed they’re already in. JustGiving’s is a page and platform supporters recognise and come back to, which is where the extra income comes from. We recommend leading with JustGiving and keeping Facebook available for supporters who prefer it, rather than removing the choice altogether.


The data on this page covers UK campaigns run through GivePanel from January to September 2026 – the headline figures cover Q3. An Active Fundraiser is a supporter whose fundraising page has received at least one donation. Activation rate is Active Fundraisers as a share of registrations. Platform figures are measured against pages created on that platform.

Want to see how your campaigns compare and how GivePanel can help?

Book a demo and we’ll see how we can help you close the activation gap.

    Virtual ChallengesDIY and Supporter-Led FundraisingEvent Registration and Fundraising (GivePanel Events)

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