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To all our volunteers,

It hardly seems possible that another year has rushed past already. It certainly has been a busy 12 months, and a lot has happened both inside the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and externally. One constant though, is the amazing work that you all do.

So, it’s only right and fitting that every June during Volunteers’ Week, we take a pause to thank you for your boundless enthusiasm, energy and commitment to fundraisers all over the country.

We are incredibly fortunate and grateful to work with hundreds of volunteers. Our Group volunteers ensure that fundraisers in the UK are supported, connected, skilled and motivated to be the best that they can be.

The Third Sector has never been more important than it is now, which of course means that fundraisers are also more important than ever. By holding networking events you ensure that fundraisers know that they are part of a much bigger team, allowing them the opportunity to share knowledge and learning, as well as lending a helping hand when they need it.

Our Introduction to Fundraising course ensures that early career fundraisers get the best possible start to their careers, while mentoring ensures that they have access to experienced and knowledgeable peers, to help guide them in those first steps. The conferences and speaker events that our Groups organise allow us to come together, to learn and to share.

We’re also so grateful that fundraisers in the UK are supported by regional and national groups the length and breadth of the country. These groups are led by a committee of volunteers who share their local knowledge, contacts and opportunities.  Our Special Interest Groups ensure that your specialist knowledge is shared with others. You, the volunteers, represent a myriad of fundraising disciplines and to anyone thinking of joining a group, no matter what type of fundraiser you are, there is a Group for you.

Our Governance Committees are also made up of fantastic volunteers, too. These volunteers ensure that the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is on course and making the best use of our resources to support your fundraising peers. As Committees, the volunteers help define what the Chartered Institute should be, what is important and how we can improve. We are truly a membership organisation, guided by and for our members.

I also want to thank our brilliant collective of Fundraising Convention volunteers. If you attend Fundraising Convention, you will be greeted and looked after by the cheeriest, most positive group of people in green t-shirts. Our Convention volunteers make the event what it has become. And in spite of the early starts, the long days and the many hours spent on their feet, I’m proud to say our volunteers will always greet you with a smile.

On behalf of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, I want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who dedicate time and energy to ensuring the fundraising sector can be the best it possibly can. The Chartered Institute is not just a charity which relies on volunteers, though that is absolutely true. Our volunteers are the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

I hope that as you navigate your packed working lives, you can sometimes take a moment to remember that through your careers in fundraising, you are making a lifetime of impact. Thank you from everyone at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising for everything that you do.

Take care,

Ronnie Young

Many of you may be aware of the recent Mail on Sunday story about Inside Success – the Community Interest Company (CIC) – and the concerns that it is misleading the public in its fundraising efforts.

We are working closely with the Fundraising Regulator – along with other key stakeholders – to ensure the actions of Inside Success are not reputationally damaging to charities, and we will be absolutely clear in all of our comms that CICs are not registered charities, nor are they eligible to be members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

The Fundraising Regulator is in discussions with the CIC Regulator to explore how best to move forward with investigations or appropriate enforcement into CICs and Inside Success in particular.

The CIC Regulator has told us they need as much evidence as possible of experiences when dealing with Inside Success – whether directly or indirectly. If you have any complaints or issues of Inside Success, please reach out to us or contact the CIC Regulator directly. If you wish to remain anonymous, the Chartered Institute will collate responses and share them with the CIC Regulator without names.

In just over five weeks from now, on Thursday July 4, the polls for the next UK General Election will open. Taking place on the second day of our annual Fundraising Convention may mean that many of you who are intending to vote will be away from your home constituency – and so you should register for a postal vote as soon as possible to ensure your voice is heard.

Political parties across the United Kingdom now have an opportunity to engage with the fundraising sector and show us how serious they are about supporting the work of charitable organisations. This is a sector which has provided invaluable contributions to the country during times of economic and social uncertainty, and it is our expectation that any new government coming into office recognises this.

We want to see a constructive election period – where sector voices are heard and engaged with. We will be sending out briefing packs to all candidates in the coming weeks, highlighting what we want to achieve for our members, the sector, and the Chartered Institute’s key priorities for the coming years. That includes growing giving and changing the perception of fundraising, as well as exploring the potential impact of some areas of legislation that were not finalised before the pre-election period – for example the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.

With that in mind – we are keen to hear from you: if the future government could do just one thing to grow giving in the UK, what would you choose? Cast your vote on our online Poll.

The Charity Commission has been clear that campaigning is a legitimate activity for charities, within the legal framework, and this remains the case during elections – and so we will work with some of our key stakeholders including NCVO and ACEVO to support our members in campaigning with confidence. We are here to signpost you to the relevant help and advice.

The next few weeks will be the opening pages to a new chapter for the charity sector – we have an opportunity to set out our vision for a brighter, more sustainable, future for fundraising and fundraisers. Whoever takes office in July, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising will be looking for a firm commitment from them to view the sector as a valued partner, and that they will listen to us and our members so we can work together to build a better, more equitable, society for all.

Fatima Whitbread MBE and Professor Jen Shang will be bringing their personal and professional experiences to Fundraising Convention this year, as the plenary speakers.

Day one, Wednesday 3 July, at Fundraising Convention will start with a plenary session from Fatima Whitbread MBE. Many people know Fatima as a double Olympic medallist, World Record Holder and World Champion Javelin thrower. After a difficult childhood Fatima found sport and it changed the trajectory of her life. Fatima will speak about how she overcame so many challenges to become an Olympic medallist.

She will share her inspiring story and talk about her early years and about her numerous TV programmes, challenges, charity work and Fatima’s UK Campaign, which aims to help children in care and care leavers to fulfil their potential.

Fatima’s UK Campaign is aimed at helping children in care and care leavers. The hope is for children to fulfil their positive potential in an environment which fosters self-worth and confidence by means of providing the necessary support and resources to give each youngster the skills and to become productive members of society.

As the founder of the charity, Fatima wants to rejuvenate the children’s care system and pursue excellence across the four nations in working with the care system to create a nationalistic framework with the summit taking place in April 2025. 

Why love should be at the heart of fundraising

Day two, Thursday 4 July, at Fundraising Convention will begin with Professor Jen Shang, PhD.

Jen is co-founder and co-director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy and is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist.

Jen will present her latest research which takes the guess work out of fundraising communications, to help ensure fundraisers really connect with donors.

The language used in fundraising communications has a profound effect on how donors view themselves and their capacity to give. Prof. Shang’s research minimises the guesswork and provides data-backed ways to communicate with donors, from the supporter making their first donation to the “lifer” who is contemplating a legacy gift. 

The latest research conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy, shows that the quality and longevity of charities’ relationship with donors suffers when the focus is solely on money, or the impact that the donors’ money will have on the charities’ worthy causes.

Jen will introduce a new paradigm emphasising that love - mutual, genuine care between the charity and the donor - is at the core of the decision to donate and should be central to how charities communicate with donors about philanthropy.

Tickets are selling fast, get yours today

65% of tickets have already been sold for Fundraising Convention 2024, so make sure you book yours today so that you can hear Fatima and Jen speak.

This is the biggest fundraising sector event of the year and is the best opportunity to connect with your fundraising peers and to gain insight and knowledge from leading fundraisers. The in-person Fundraising Convention has seven tracks and 70 sessions to choose from, and the virtual Fundraising Convention has three tracks and 30 sessions to select from.

Every year, Fundraising Convention offers a unique chance to unite as a sector, nurturing a community spirit where we can find support and encouragement while learning and prospering together.

Check out the full programme and get your tickets.

New Pan European Non-profit Pulse Report 2024 reveals how fundraisers are facing greatest challenges head on.

Non-profits across Europe are doing more with less amid a perfect storm of rising service demand, increasing workload, and squeezed income, according to the latest annual Non-profit Pulse report, by the European Fundraising Association in partnership with the UK’s Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Salesforce.

Workload, raising sufficient funds, and supporting staff and their wellbeing are the biggest challenges, with just 6% of respondents unaffected by the cost of living crisis, and a fifth (20%) concerned about the future.

Once again facing their challenges head on, many non-profits are responding by seizing the opportunities available to them – from advances in technology and AI to greater collaboration between organisations.

Based on a survey of 671 senior representatives of non-profit organisations from 20 nations across Europe in November 2023, the report tracks change, examining the impact of the ongoing economic crisis and how non-profits are responding.

For the first time, it includes a focus on how non-profits are using AI, or plan to, and their view on its opportunities and the challenges around its use. Also included are recommendations for getting started with AI, and commentary on this and other key report findings from fundraising experts.

The key findings

Easing of pressure but biggest challenges remain

2023’s survey suggests some easing of pressure from 2022 with percentages dropping in many areas, however:

• 28% of those surveyed saw demand for services increase, while 28% saw income from donations fall, and 26% experienced a drop in supporter numbers.

• 20% had to use their reserves, while 28% let staff go, and workload along with staff wellbeing were key issues for 37% and 26% respectively.

Sector’s response to challenges

In response to the challenges 2023 saw fundraising strategy remain unchanged for just 8% of non-profits with the vast majority responding through a variety of means:

• Almost a quarter (23%) focused on further digital development and channel diversification.

• Collaboration was mentioned for the first time since tracking began in 2015 as a top area of focus, with 22% working more with other non-profits.

Fundraising: in-person activity reignites alongside further growth in digital

Reliance on digital continued to grow in 2023 for Europe’s nonprofits and their donors:

• 19% acquired more supporters through social media and 17% through online events.

• The most popular channels for fundraising and engagement were social media (51% of respondents), website (47%), email (46%). At the same time, in-person activity rose with F2F the fourth most popular channel (39%).

Focus on AI

Gauging non-profits’ current sentiments on using AI, the research found:

• 13% were excited and already using AI, and 22% ‘optimistic but cautious’, while 15% said they didn’t see their organisation using AI at all.

• Key concerns for both Generative and Predictive AI were data security and privacy, loss of human expertise and job displacement.

The nonprofit sector is currently facing its biggest collective set of opportunities, challenges and risks in our lifetime. It’s a perfect storm of rising demand, growing workload and squeezed income that means together, as a sector, we must answer the big question of how we can all do more with less. One of the most exciting areas of opportunity has to be in new technologies and AI, which is a critical lever of change that we cannot ignore.

Rob Cope, executive director, membership and operations, Chartered Institute of Fundraising

Our response to the Report

2023 presented economical challenges to charities not just across the UK, but Europe-wide. The recently published Nonprofit Pulse 2024: Tracking change in Europe and the development of AI report, produced by the European Fundraising Association (EFA) and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, in partnership with Salesforce, has highlighted the changing landscapes for European non-profits, alongside some of the key challenges and opportunities the sector is facing.

The report explores the impact the continued cost of living crisis is having, and the challenges this is presenting to charities across Europe, changing strategies and fundraising models, and the future of advanced technology across the sector.

Big Challenges

Of the 671 nonprofit organisations that responded to the survey 28% reported an increase in the demand for services – while 28% also reported a decrease in donations received. More than a quarter saw a drop in the number of individual donors, and workload and staff wellbeing for were issues for 37% and 26% respectively.

Currently the nonprofit sector is facing its biggest collective set of opportunities, challenges and risks for a long time. There is rising demand, growing workload, and a squeezed income – the perfect storm. How do we weather this storm? As a sector we must answer the big question of how we can all do more, with less.

Technology and how to incorporate AI in to fundraising

Innovation and technology could be a driving force as we look to grow giving in 2024, with AI playing a role in some shape or form. While many, understandably, feel the need to know more, some organisations are already utilising AI tools, with others actively considering the role it will play in their fundraising going forwards.

The Chartered Institute is undertaking its own research into growing giving – and breaking down barriers to innovation is proving to be a key theme. We are also exploring the next steps in the use of AI in fundraising – how it can support staff and organisations, spot data trends, identify opportunities to generate content, and retain supporters among many other things. It is an exciting opportunity to develop in the future of fundraising, and potentially a tool that future fundraisers will wonder how we ever lived without.

Finally – what’s interesting in this report, is that despite living in an increasingly digital age, face-to-face fundraising remains popular. Engagement is continuing to grow across websites and social platforms, but the traditional model of face-to-face is still viewed as one of the most effective and valuable models of fundraising, with in-person activity landing in fourth place among the most popular channels to fundraise – behind social media, websites and email.

The full report and its findings can be downloaded for free. A webinar panel discussion on the findings will follow in May with details to be announced.

Our new guidance will help fundraisers create a policy to help decision making about accepting and refusing donations.

The decision to accept or refuse a donation is not always straightforward. Whilst trustees and charity staff must always act in the best interest of the charity - which means making sure the organisation has sufficient funds to carry out its charitable objectives - it also means protecting its reputation and credibility.  

Although this has always been an important part of running a charity, evolving societal opinions on certain industries and activities mean that the reputational risk of accepting donations from certain sources might be higher than previously and trustees need to be conscious of not alienating their beneficiaries or supporters. Furthermore, staff opinion on whether to accept or refuse a donation from some sources might differ within the charity itself.   

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has updated its guidance on how to create a policy on accepting and refusing donations, as the decisions of charities to refuse donations are increasingly in the spotlight. The updated guidance is available exclusively for members.  

Decisions made about accepting and refusing donations can impact on other donors, the reputation of a charity and whether it can provide services to its beneficiaries. Therefore, having a robust policy in place to ensure fairness and accountability is important to charities of all sizes.  

Having a clear policy on accepting and refusing donations is essential to uphold a charity’s mission and values while maintaining transparency and accountability. 

It is therefore important to have a policy in place, so staff and trustees understand how to make decisions that align with charity law and ensures the organisation fulfils its charitable objectives. 

Our new guidance will help fundraisers, leaders and trustees to create a policy that is right for their charities, as well as practical hints and tips when putting it into practice. The guidance covers: 

1. What do the rules say? 

2. How to develop your policy 

3. Putting policy into practice 

4. Scenarios to consider.  

A well-defined policy helps charities manage resources efficiently, and it allows fundraisers to concentrate on raising money for their organisations.  

Furthermore, having clear guidelines in place enhances public trust in a charity and credibility. Donors want assurance that their contributions are used effectively and ethically. A transparent donation policy demonstrates the charity's commitment to responsible stewardship and can attract more support in the long run. 

This guidance is available exclusively for members of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. If you’re not a member, find out more about joining.  

New research from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising explores what motivates donors and what stops others from supporting charities.

As part of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s commitment to helping fundraisers to grow giving for charities of all sizes up and down the country, in partnership with Opinium, we polled 2,000 people on their motivations and attitudes towards charitable giving.

The report, which is availble exclusively for members, features useful insights for fundraisers, both for practical day-to-day activities and for planning fundraising activities.  

The report highlights the differences between men and women and different age groups, to help fundraisers enhance their asks.  

Five key themes emerged from the report which are: 

• Donating money is considered the third most impactful way to support a charity. 
• Less than half of people who support a charity, feel they are making a difference to the cause. 
• Wanting to helping others is the main reason people donate to charity. 
• Too many asks to donate could stop people from supporting. 
• ‘Flexible asking’ is a new way to engage people who feel they can’t afford to support a charity.

There is a lot of factors and reasons at play to motivate why someone may or may not give to charity. The report can be used in conjunction with other guidance and resources available from the Chartered Institute.  

Charlotte Sherman, Growing Giving, Policy and Partnerships Manager at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, said: “The findings in Opinium’s report start to answer some of the most pressing questions our members have in to why and how people donate to good causes.  

It’s clear that there are some great opportunities out there for charities to reach passionate supporters, but there are also some substantial challenges. These can’t be overcome by one single organisation or group, and we look forward to working with the government and wider sector to create a fundraising environment that allows charities to thrive.”   

There’s room for growth and through the Growing Giving agenda the Chartered Institute is working with members to establish how government, societal influencers and charities can encourage more people to donate. We encourage fundraisers from across charities large and small to review the insight that has been gathered and consider it when planning your own fundraising activities.  

If you would like to access the report and are not yet a member, find out about joining. 

Our response to the Spring Budget 2024 is written by Claire Stanley, director of policy and communications.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his Spring Budget on Wednesday 6 March with few major surprises.

Despite speculation in the weeks leading up to the Budget, the Chancellor did not announce his intention to cut Income Tax rates, and instead committed to reducing class 1 employee National Insurance contributions from 10% to 8% - effective from 6 April this year.

Payroll Giving and Gift Aid

And while we will look into how this could potentially impact Payroll Giving contributions, this is generally welcome news for charities as it will not lead to a decrease in the amount of Gift Aid that can be claimed on donations and subscriptions.

On the topic of Gift Aid, we were happy to see that government appears to have listened to charities and committed to ensuring it can continue to be claimed on membership subscriptions and will amend legislation due to the implications of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill, which sets out new protections for consumers who take out subscription contracts. However, we do remain concerned at the lack of clarity in the Bill around which membership subscriptions will fall under the Bill’s remit, and we, along with NCVO and CFG, will continue to press government to provide consistency between consumer and tax rules on when subscriptions can be treated as donations.

We will also work with them to ensure we reach a workable solution that does not create additional administrative burdens for charities.

We have also been clear that we have significant concerns around the challenges of implementing a cooling off period for subscriptions, which could potentially enable people to temporarily take advantage of access to charity property during that time, where a full refund can be given, and we are urging the government to consider the appropriateness of these measures. We will keep our members updated on this after the committee stage and provide support and guidance for those who may be affected by it.

Capital Gains Tax

The Chancellor also announced changes to Capital Gains Tax – with the higher rate of tax paid on profits from selling property decreasing from 28% to 24%. And while that may not directly impact charities, this could potentially open up a window of opportunity to encourage further philanthropy through tax-efficient giving.

There is no CGT to pay on land, property or qualifying shares donated to a charity – therefore allowing a higher rate taxpayer to donate up to an additional 24% to charity when compared to selling the asset in their own name and subsequently deciding to transfer the cash to charity. We’ve already heard of examples from members of crypto investors taking advantage of this relief in the past, and there is certainly scope to encourage more professional advisors to highlight this fiscal incentive with their clients. Plus, we know from Remember A Charity’s work with legal professionals just how crucial a role professional advisors can play in promoting philanthropy, with even the simplest mention during Will-writing of the option of leaving a charitable gift doubling the likelihood that a client will choose to remember a charity in their Will.

Philanthropy

Looking at it from a different angle and following discussions with the Beacon Collaborative, we believe what is good for the charity sector is good for philanthropy – rather than the other way around.

Rather than calling for better tax incentives, Beacon believes we should be asking government to help us to promote the existing incentives for philanthropy and to support match funding, which they feel is a better incentive because it brings all parts of the community together, encouraging them to work together towards a collective goal – and some great steps are already being made in this space with DCMS currently exploring how to make wealth training mandatory for professional advisors.

Funding for charities

Finally, we welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that £45m of funding will be allocated for life sciences research – with £3m of that dedicated to Cancer Research UK. As we move forward – particularly with a new government coming into power at some point this year – we hope to explore how statutory measures can be better leveraged to help the sector achieve its goals.

Michele Welch, Head of Professional Conduct, explains the updates the Chartered Institute of Fundraising has been making to safeguarding and the introduction of the Professional Conduct Committee.

Returning to work at the start of 2024, I’ve been reflecting on the key developments we’ve been making to improve safeguarding at the CIOF. We are always looking at what more we can do to support our members and to ensure our events and networks will be a safe space for fundraisers. There have been some significant changes in our safeguarding processes lately, and we’re keen to share an update with you.

Of course, implementing changes to safeguarding practices is not a one-time task; it requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Regular reviews of the effectiveness of the updated measures, feedback from stakeholders, and analysis of any reported incidents are essential to ensuring that the changes are achieving their intended outcomes. While we continue to listen and learn, we now have the tools and expertise in place to take a rigorous approach to safeguarding and robust governance to monitor, improve, and protect these policies in action.

Introducing the Professional Conduct Committee

Amongst the most recent changes, we are delighted to have recruited a highly engaged and committed Committee which now oversee and support our complaints process, and ensure alignment with our wider safeguarding activity and Action Plan.

Meeting most recently in December, the Committee evaluated our current policies and procedures in line with best practice, making recommendations and agreeing plans for how they will take forward any recommendations from the upcoming Independent Review. Chair Lindsey Bartling has written a summary of how the Committee is developing and I wanted to share this with you as she describes the committee and its purpose. You can read more here.

Safeguarding actions and updates

We’ve also refreshed our safeguarding hub – a dedicated area of the CIOF’s website, where you can find updates on our progress and next steps to improve our safeguarding, as well as links to relevant information and committees. This includes the Code of Conduct and Code of Behaviour for those attending our events and training, information about our complaints process, how to raise any concerns and our misconduct and whistleblowing reporting system.

We remain fully committed to the wellbeing and safety of those we serve and work with, fostering a culture of vigilance and care, and we know how important it is to continue to listen and learn. If you want to share any feedback, raise concerns, or simply comment and engage with what you have read today, please contact us directly at complaints@ciof.org.uk or use our reporting tool Talk to Spot with the option to do so anonymously. If you want further guidance on how to raise a complaint or concern, please visit this webpage.

We understand that addressing complaints and concerns is crucial to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment. All feedback will be supported with sensitivity and confidentiality. We encourage open communication and value the input of our community members in helping us improve the safety of the fundraising sector.

Talk to Spot: Raise an issue, submit feedback, or register a complaint anonymously at any time through our confidential reporting tool.