Charity Sector Trends Report Confirmed for 2026
Cymba, the SMS and Rich Communications Services (RCS) payments and messaging provider to charities, in partnership with the Association for Interactive Media and Micropayments (aimm), is set to produce a new annual charity sector trends report that shines a light on Premium SMS (PSMS) usage, trends, best practice, and innovation across the UK.
The report, which will include key insights, data, case studies, and mobile messaging and payments predictions for the future, is expected to feature input from many of aimm’s high-profile charity members.
Designed to champion the sector, the report’s announcement has been welcomed by aimm’s board and its members, many of which are competitors, for its potential to share knowledge, further the sector, and unite the organisations that operate within it.
As a member-funded specialist trade association for the interactive media and micropayments industries in the UK, aimm has been working closely with industry, regulators, and government since its inception in 2008. The organisation is focused on creating conditions for growth amongst its members and protecting the regulatory environment in which its members operate.
Cymba, which will lead the production of the report, joined aimm in 2017. Rich Mullens, Director at the mobile payments and messaging solutions provider, joined aimm’s Board in 2025, having replaced Steve Matheison, the business’s Product Lead, who served two years.
On producing the report, which is scheduled for launch in Q1 of 2026, Rich comments:
“This is an exciting opportunity to promote best practice in the use of PSMS within charitable fundraising, and provide meaningful data and commentary that the entire industry can benefit from. PSMS, and now RCS, continues to enable supporter engagement and generate significant amounts of income for charities across the UK, so it’s right that we celebrate its impact in a structured and non-competitive way. CYMBA is delighted to lead on this project and proud of its ongoing association with aimm."
Joanna Cox, General Manager at aimm, adds:
“The report and the support it has received so far reflects an industry-wide commitment to strengthen the sector through insights, shared knowledge, and innovation. If we can better understand the emerging opportunities and challenges, then we can better support organisations working within the sector as they continue to grow and strive to improve the customer experience. Consumer trust is the most important thing, and the thing that we need to get right. If we’re continually trying to arm organisations in the sector with the tools they need to deliver positive customer experiences, as we’re aiming to do with this report, then that can only be a good thing.”
aimm members interested in contributing to the report can contact joanna@aimm.co and Cymba customers, please reach out to stevem@cymba.co.uk
For more information on aimm, visit www.aimm.co
