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Who needs charities? The changing ways people give

Charitable giving is falling. But does that mean people are becoming less generous? Not necessarily.

People may simply be choosing different ways to make a difference. They might make a small loan to an entrepreneur, buy ethical products or give directly to someone through crowdfunding.

This is known as ‘disintermediation’: people giving or providing help without involving a charity.

This could create a serious challenge for charities. These other ways of giving can offer people a strong sense of personal involvement and a rewarding experience. If they provide something that charities do not, why would people choose to give through a charity?

We also need to ask a more difficult question. If other organisations or individuals can raise money and help people more effectively than charities, should charities step aside?

But what if these approaches are less effective? What if they do not direct money to where it is most needed—or sometimes cause unintended harm? Do charities have a responsibility to show the value they add and strengthen their relationships with supporters?

Join us on 30 September, from 4pm to 4.45pm BST, to discuss these questions and the latest white paper from Rogare – The Fundraising Think Tank: Death by a thousand cuts: How other actors are displacing charities from giving, asking for support and providing help.

The paper explores the different ways in which people are choosing to give and help outside charities. You can read the work on Rogare’s website: https://www.rogare.net/disintermediation

Rogare’s Ian MacQuillin, Dr Rita Kottasz from Kingston University Business School and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Ceri Edwards will discuss what this means for charities and fundraisers. They will also consider how we can give supporters the experiences they are looking for and harness the energy of people who raise money independently.

Although the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is hosting this webinar in the UK, these issues affect charities and fundraisers around the world. We warmly invite fundraisers everywhere to join the discussion.