Our 40acts generosity challenge is back for Lent 2026!
40acts is our award-winning generosity challenge that last year saw around 50,000 people spreading kindness and joy in their communities through moments of radical generosity.
40acts flips the traditional idea of giving stuff up for Lent to focus instead on giving stuff away. Over the 40 days from Wednesday 18 February to Thursday 2 April, followers will receive a daily email with a reflection and challenge designed to bless people in creative ways big and small with their money, time and talents. Reflections are written by a wide range of contributors from across the Christian charity sector.
New for this year is the opportunity to follow 40acts in the new Stewardship Giving app, which will make it easy for subscribers to track their progress as well as give in response to the daily acts. Also new for 2026 is a weekly podcast with Christian influencers including Pat Allerton, aka ‘The Portable Priest’, Emma Lou Francis, John J Reynolds, Swarzy Shirey and Deborah van der Bij.
To make it as easy as possible for people to join in, we are making a range of resources freely available, which include church and school teaching materials for all age groups, a family wall chart and social media assets.
We have partnered with a number of different organisations to help create these resources: Roots for Churches and BRF Ministries’ Messy Church and Parenting for Faith have contributed a full suite of all-age service resources, the Bible Society has provided sermon plans and the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC) has shared sample passages focused on generosity from the new Everyday Faith Bible. In addition, we have partnered with The Church of England to produce a 40acts children and family resource called ‘Draw Near with 40acts’.
40acts will also be available through the YouVersion, Grow and PrayerMate apps.
“We are so excited to be running 40acts again for Lent this year. We love seeing so many generous people coming together to spread the love of Jesus through intentional acts of generosity. Whatever your age or life stage, if you’re a person that loves to be generous, then this challenge is for you! We’re also thrilled to be partnering with many incredible Christian charities to ensure this year’s campaign creates an even bigger impact for God’s Kingdom. Whether you’re giving or receiving with 40acts this Lent, we pray it will be a blessing to you.” Janie Oliver, CEO, Stewardship
Support for 40acts
“I like 40acts’ upside-down approach to Lent where you give stuff away rather than up. I think if more people knew about the way in which you’ve turned the traditional approach to Lent on its head, I think more people would be like, ‘Who is this God? Who is this generous, generous God that you talk about?’” Swarzy Shire, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra host and public speaker
“40acts is the most brilliant idea and easiest way to get exercising your generosity muscle. What’s more, it’s fun! Especially when you remember that loads of other people are doing it with you every day! Why not give it a go…?” Pat Allerton, aka The Portable Priest, Vicar at St Peter’s Church in Notting Hill
“Following Jesus is not something we do just on a Sunday. It shapes every part of our lives, every day of the week. At the heart of that way of life is generosity, a daily choice to notice others, to loosen our grip on what we have, and to respond with love as Jesus does. That’s why we’re so encouraged by 40acts and hope as many people as possible will get involved.” Paul Woolley, CEO, LICC
Do Lent generously with us!
To join the 40acts challenge, sign up to receive daily emails with a reflection from a 40acts partner, a prayer prompt and a challenge to do something generous.
Learn to live more generously
Join thousands receiving insights and reflections that encourage a life of generosity. Sign up to Generous today and receive a free digital copy of Money and the Gospel.
Ruth Jackson
Ruth leads the PR and Communications for Stewardship, which she joined in April 2022.
She has over 25 years’ marketing communications experience across a range of sectors, including higher education, technology and the arts, both business- and customer-facing.
Ruth worships and serves at C3 Church in Cambridge where she lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, a dog and a cat. When she’s not at her desk, you might find her rowing on the River Cam, in a ballet class or out for a walk.
She supports causes that are focused on alleviating global poverty and injustice, with a particular interest in supporting vulnerable children.
