Recent News
Recent News
Barnardos in Ireland increases income
Irish charity Barnardos saw its fundraising income grow by 6% in 2009, according to its latest annual report.
Barnardos is financed by a mix of statutory and voluntary funding. In 2009 it raised a total income of €26.1m, an increase of 7% on the previous year.
The income was generated through various channels. 62% was statutory funding, primarily allocated through the Health Service Executive; and the remainder was raised through fundraising activity.
In 2009 fundraising income generated €5.4 million, a growth of 6% on the previous year. Barnardos continued to receive significant support from Atlantic Philanthropies and The One Foundation.
Donations accounted for 21.2% of fundraising income, shops 4.4% and trusts and foundations 11.4%.
Voluntary income was €8.5 million while income from trading activities was €1.15 million. The accounts show, however, that trading expenditure was more than income for the second year running.
Gift Aid reform "still slow moving and disjointed" says Institute
The Institute of Fundraising has expressed concern that progress to reform Gift Aid is "still slow moving and disjointed". In particular, it is concerned that new discussion around increased giving, donor motivations, and the UK embracing and replicating the American model of philanthropy means that the consultation around Gift Aid is departing from its original brief.
The Institute was responding to the Digital Giving presentation given by ResPublica on 6 September 2010.
Lee Grant, Tax-Effective Giving Project Manager at the Institute of Fundraising, said: "Donors do not choose to give because of Gift Aid; they give to support good causes. Gift Aid simply increases the value of their gifts. Higher rate taxpayers enjoy partial-relief and therefore often adjust their gifts accordingly. Our system is not comparable with that of the USA; primarily because all the relief goes to the donor in the States and this can be used to motivate donors to give more.”
He added: "It is quite alarming that in 2010, we are discussing new technologies in Gift Aid in the same breath as ‘the internet’ and ‘SMS donations’; this is hardly revolutionary stuff. However, the fact remains that the sector needs to catch up, and what we have come to expect as ‘the norm’ in the commercial sector is not necessarily being replicated in ours".
The Institute states that it welcomes any reform of Gift Aid that "creates an opportunity to increase charities’ income from voluntary gifts and that reduces the administrative burden and costs for all organisations involved in administering Gift Aid".
It is particularly keen to ensure that no voluntary groups are excluded from Gift Aid and the choice it offers their donors to increase their gifts. It argues that recent changes to the application process and the introduction of the fit and proper persons test is already discouraging new charities from using the relief.
The Institute continues to call on Government to extend transitional relief to maintain Gift Aid at its current level until suitable reforms have been implemented to address the deficit post-transitional relief and simplify the process sufficiently to include all voluntary organisations.
Fundraising difficulties lead to redundancies at Amnesty International Ireland
Amnesty International Ireland is cutting six staff positions after its fundraising dropped significantly over the last year, according to reports in the Irish Independent/
Fundraising income has dropped in the last two years but the decrease had been most pronounced in the last year, with Amnesty predicting a bad year for 2010.
Donations income fell almost 75% over the last two years according to the Sunday Tribune. In 2008, €374,000 was received in one-off donations, but this fell to €203,000 last year. Amnesty said it now expected to receive just half that amount in 2010.
Other income has also fallen with direct mail appeal income cut in half from €420,000 to just €194,000 in 2009. Money raised through special events had also fallen by more than 50% to €185,000.
Amnesty does not accept any government money so it in order to maintain its independence.
The job cuts are said to include four full time and two part staff.
In the last four years the Amnesty International Foundation in Ireland, an associated body of Amnesty, has received nearly €2 million in grants from Atlantic Philanthropies.
Local trusts collaborate in £3m campaign for Islington
An initiative by people and organisations in the London borough of Islington is aiming to raise £3 million for Islington-based projects. Islington Giving brings together local charitable trusts that already work to address poverty and disadvantage "into a a unique and powerful local partnership".
Founder members of the Coalition, which is endorsed by Islington Council, include UnLtd, The Breadsticks Foundation, Cripplegate Foundation, The Morris Charitable Trust, Richard Cloudesley’s Charity and Voluntary Action Islington, and others are due to be announced. The campaign is intended to involve the private, voluntary and public sectors.
Islington is the eighth most deprived borough in England and the fourth most deprived in London. It has the highest male suicide rate in England, and child mental health problems are 36% higher than the national average. Yet it is also home to wealthy individuals and successful businesses.
Jack Morris OBE, Coalition member and Chairman of the Islington Giving Appeal Committee, commented: "There are 'two Islingtons' – one successful, vibrant and prosperous, the other poor and disadvantaged. Our charitable Coalition recognises that it is through the sum of our parts that we can achieve the most for Islington."
The campaign to raise £3 million will run for three years.
Cancer Research UK changes approach to annual thank you
Cancer Research UK is taking a different approach to thank its 900,000 supporters and demonstrate how their donations are making a difference. It will replace its annual newsletter update with an integrated campaign of a booklet sent by direct mail and a microsite.
The approach has been devised by direct to digital agency TDA, and represenents the agency's first piece of work for the charity since its appointment in June 2010.
The campaign focuses on the impact that each supporter's gift is making on Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research. Using the theme of 'Your Story', the booklet demonstrates to each supporter their own role in beating cancer. Its content will vary according to where supporters live, so that they are informed of stories and events in their own region.
The booklet is designed to provide "inspirational tales of hope, courage and breakthrough", and it invites supporters to discover more at the Cancer Research UK website. They can also share their own cancer stories.
"We want our supporters to know what their money is doing, encouraging them to continue their support, and feel closer to us as an organisation," sai Melanie Day, Direct Marketing Specialist Manager at Cancer Research UK. "This campaign is not about asking for donations, it’s our opportunity to thank our many supporters for what they’ve done to help beat cancer."
The campaign began on 1 September and runs throughout the month.
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