Glasgow has been officially recognised as Scotland’s most generous city and the second most generous in the UK, after new data revealed a record-breaking year of charitable giving from local residents.
It comes after an extraordinary response to Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 cycling challenge, which took place in Glasgow in September and raised over £3.1million for cancer charities. The generosity of Scottish communities was central to the event’s success, with participants on the road routes blown away by the local support.
Nearly 3,000 donations to Tour de 4 from Glaswegians helped secure the city’s position as the second most generous in the UK when it came to supporting the challenge during its inaugural year, just behind Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland’s second Most Generous city, came tenth in the overall UK rankings.
The date of last year’s Tour de 4, September 7, was also the most generous day in both Glasgow and in Scotland.
Glasgow’s biggest campaign last year raised £34k for the search operation of 38-year-old Greg Monks, after he disappeared while on a stag do in Portugal.
However, the city’s generosity was shown countless times throughout the year, whether it was the £24k raised for Glasgow Women’s Aid in memory of 21-year-old Phoenix Spencer-Horn, £2k raised for a city-based Christmas food parcel appeal and £28k raised for a 151-year-old football club called Hamilton Accies.
The biggest fundraiser in Scotland was set up to support the family of Rangers fan Christopher Potter, from Gartcosh, which included a donation by former Scotland star Robert Snodgrass.
GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said: “Glasgow’s leap to becoming the Most Generous City in Scotland and second Most Generous in the UK is a testament to its history of solidarity and innate compassion, which dates back generations.
“We are also proud to return as the partner of the 2026 Tour de 4 challenge, which Sir Chris Hoy announced yesterday will be taking place again in Glasgow later this year. As we celebrate the city’s great generosity last year, we look forward to seeing even more inspiring acts of kindness in 2026.”
Lord Provost of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the people of Glasgow. This recognition from GoFundMe reflects something that we already know to be true; kindness and generosity is woven into the very fabric of our city. Whether responding to moments of crisis and hardship, supporting local causes, or getting behind challenges like the Tour de 4, Glaswegians consistently step forward for one another.
“Being acknowledged as Scotland’s most generous city, in addition to once again being named the UK’s friendliest, speaks volumes about the type of city we are. I am proud of everyone who contributed to this achievement, and I know Glasgow will continue to lead with humanity in the year ahead
The UK’s most generous cities by measure of donations per capita last year were:
- LIVERPOOL
- GLASGOW
- LONDON
- NORWICH
- LEEDS
- CARDIFF
- BRISTOL
- MANCHESTER
- WREXHAM
- EDINBURGH
About GoFundMe
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