As banks and financial institutions crumble and top retail brands such as Marks & Spencer's are hit by dire profit warnings, it appears that many charities are probably going to weather the credit crunch a lot better than originally thought.
Over the past month the independent consultancy group FundraisingAdvisors.co.uk conducted an online poll amongst small to medium sized charities. The company originally expected the 'Poll 100' to identify a drop in charitable donations. To some extent this was borne out. The Poll 100 revealed that company donations to charities were already starting to be reduced, or withdrawn all together. Amongst the more interesting facts was that regular donations given to charities by private individuals, were still being maintained, and in some cases had actually increased!
The anecdotal evidence from just under one hundred charities that responded to the poll, suggested that the people who gave donations to the charity on a regular fixed basis; were generally more committed to supporting the cause, understood the impact that stopping their donations could have on the charity, and would continue donating unless the economy, or their own personal circumstance got worse! It would appear from the figures that many donors would rather cut down on their consumer spending, than stop their charitable giving.
The online Poll 100 was conducted amongst fundraisers of small to medium sized charities. The poll is the first in a series that will regularly canvas opinions and views on issues that are effecting UK non profits. The purpose of the Poll 100 undertaken by the fundraising consultants of FundraisingAdvisors.co.uk was to gain a better understanding of what impact the credit crunch was having on charities. On further analysis of the results Bradley Jones, Senior Consultant for the organisation concluded that "If these results are being borne out across the wider voluntary sector, charities should concentrate on looking after these donors. However, it will be interesting to see if these donation levels rise as a result of the cut in the Bank of England base rate?"
The team of consultants at FundraisingAdvisors.co.uk are a collective of senior fundraising practioners who specialise in providing fundraising expertise and advice to charity Fundraisers, Senior Management and Trustees of small to medium non profit organisations who are seeking to increase their voluntary income. For further details on the Poll 100 please email: admin@fundraisingadvisors.co.uk
or alternatively visit: www.fundraisingadvisors.co.uk
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