Understanding Zakat Giving
How do people choose where to give their Zakat? This study explores charity awareness, reported giving and the priorities, influences and experiences respondents say shape their decisions.
Prepared for Ramadan 2026, Friday’s research examines how surveyed Zakat payers research, choose and give. It compares recognition and reported giving across eight named charities, alongside respondents’ priorities, information sources and past barriers. The findings offer practical questions for charities exploring their communication and giving experience.
- 500+ respondents who reported being liable to pay, or having paid, Zakat in the past year.
- Online survey exploring charity awareness, reported giving and decision-making.
- Recognition and reported giving compared across eight named charities.
- Unweighted findings describe the surveyed respondents and should not be treated as precise estimates for all UK Muslims.
41.8%
Helping those who need it most leads the priorities.
Helping those who need it most was the leading stated priority, followed by religiously sound distribution at 20.2%.
Research and relationships both matter.
38.7% selected independent research; 61.3% selected a named personal, community or scholar influence.
Clarity and the giving experience deserve attention.
38.7% selected at least one digital/payment-friction or Zakat-policy/admin-fee-assurance item as a past barrier. Each respondent is counted once across these groupings.
Recognition and reported giving vary across charities.
The report compares both measures across eight named charities. These differences do not establish why people chose an organisation or how much they gave.
Recognition and reported giving
Friday’s Conversion Efficiency benchmark provides a descriptive comparison of reported Zakat giving relative to aided awareness.
It does not measure donation value, trust, fundraising return or an observed individual journey from awareness to giving.
What it might mean.
The findings suggest useful areas to investigate: how donors understand a charity’s Zakat approach, how easily they find answers and what happens when they try to give. Donor research, behavioural data and user testing can help charities assess what needs improving.
Practical areas to investigate.
Explain the approach
Make eligibility, allocation, fees or deductions and reporting clear.
Test the giving experience
Review mobile navigation and payment steps with real users. Track completion and investigate actual drop-off.
Support research and conversations
Provide useful information for donors and accurate answers for supporters and community partners.
Request the full report.
Explore the full findings on charity recognition, reported Zakat giving, donor priorities and past barriers, alongside the study’s limitations and practical recommendations.
Survey base: 550; charity comparisons: 546. Findings are unweighted and describe the surveyed respondents. Relationships are descriptive and do not establish cause and effect.