via GRAPHIC PLUS — A growing number of charities or non-government organizations (NGOs) in the Philippines expect demand for their services to increase this 2026, highlighting the need for stronger support from local donors and partners.

According to the Giving in the Philippines Report 2025, 75% of charities anticipate an increase in demand for their programs, as communities continue to face social, economic, and environmental challenges.

The report, part of the World Giving Report series by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), was released locally by the Association of Foundations (AF), the country’s largest network of NGOs and foundations. It highlights a critical turning point in the sector: the growing need for charities to transition from a reliance on international aid toward domestic sources of support.

The Giving Opportunity

The study finds that Filipinos are among the most generous people globally, with three in four Filipinos donating in the past year. However, most donations go directly to individuals or families in need (54%) or to religious institutions (43%), while charities receive a smaller share (31%).

Greater support for charities could help charities meet rising community needs. The report notes that charities in the Philippines are highly connected with one another, collaborating with partners through coalitions and networks that extend the reach and impact of donations.

“Working together has always been part of how the Philippine NGO sector operates,” said Oman Jiao, Executive Director of AF. “Through networks like AF, organizations coordinate and learn from one another while mobilizing local support to respond more effectively to the needs of communities.” 

Transparency: The key to unlocking support

The report also highlights an opportunity to further strengthen local giving. More than half of respondents said they would donate to more charities or NGOs if they knew more about the results and impact of a charity’s work.

This underscores the importance of transparency and accountability – areas that AF actively promotes through its training programs, capacity-building initiatives, and efforts to strengthen NGO governance and impact reporting.

Filipinos are willing to give, but they also want to understand the difference their contributions make,” said Jiao. “By helping NGOs and foundations strengthen transparency and impact reporting, this builds trust and makes it easier for people to support causes they care about. With more support, organizations will have the resources they need to continue serving communities across the country amid growing socioeconomic challenges.”