Lent is traditionally a time for spiritual reflection and realignment, which often focuses on giving things up. 40acts, Stewardship’s generosity challenge for the season, flips that idea on its head to focus instead on giving things away.
Over the 40 days from Wednesday 18 February to Thursday 2 April, followers will receive a daily email with a reflection, prayer prompt and challenge designed to bless people in creative ways with their money, time and talents. Whether it’s writing a note to someone who needs encouragement, offering a meal or small gift to a neighbour, or pausing to pray for a friend, each act is designed to help us notice the needs around us and respond with the love of Jesus.
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 designed to encourage and inspire people on their 40acts journey.
To make it as easy as possible for people to join in, Stewardship is making a range of free resources available, which include church and school teaching materials for all age groups, a family wall chart and social media assets.
Stewardship has partnered with several other CTE Charities and Networks in Associations 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. The London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC) has shared sample passages focused on generosity from the new Everyday Faith Bible. In addition, Stewardship has partnered with The Church of England to produce a 40acts children and family resource called Draw Near with 40acts: A Lent challenge.
40acts will also be available through the YouVersion, Grow and PrayerMate apps.
Janie Oliver, CEO, Stewardship said: “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.”
Sign up to join the 40acts challenge.
Generosity Report 2026
40acts is one way in which Stewardship supports Christians in their generosity. Our annual Generosity Report, which we’ve just published, explores Christian giving in the UK. It provides data and insights into the factors driving and hindering generosity.
For the first time this year, the report introduces five giving personas, exploring their giving motivations and suggesting opportunities for engagement. The report includes recommendations and resources to help donors, church and charity leaders and Christian workers put the findings into practice.
Download the Generosity Report 2026
Stewardship has become a Charity and Network in Association with Churches Together in England. Our mission is to help Christians be the best stewards of the resources God gives them. We have been working with generous Christians and the ministries they support for over a century.
Today, we help over 30,000 donors discover the joy of generosity as they give around £110 million every year to over 12,000 church, charity and individual partners. Our professional services also equip, grow and strengthen those partners so they can create more and more impact for God’s Kingdom.