The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) is calling on the UK Government to provide greater support for charities following an Autumn Budget that failed to address growing pressures on the voluntary sector. With rising costs, inflation and declining financial resilience affecting charities and the communities they serve, CIOF is urging ministers to adopt its Budget recommendations to strengthen charitable giving.
"The new administration's Autumn Budget underlined many of the global and domestic fiscal challenges facing the UK today. All of these factors, from rising energy costs to high inflation and business rates affect charities, their beneficiaries and the communities they serve. However, in a budget designed to encourage growth and give struggling people and businesses breathing space, there was no support extended to charities, many of whom have been a lifeline to those in need since the cost-of-living crisis took hold.
At a time when charitable income is under unprecedented pressure, it is time for a step-change in how government works with the sector. We are therefore calling on the government to take forward the recommendations outlined in our submission to the budget.
Our proposals are designed to tackle the three core challenges holding charities back from raising sustainable income: nurturing legacy giving to ensure it maintains its growth trajectory, encouraging wealthy individuals who have the capacity to support causes right now to do so, and ensuring that charities have the skills and tools available to make the most of emerging technologies including AI.
We shall continue to work with relevant departments and regulators to ensure our members’ views are heard and to foster a resilient giving landscape in which charities and the communities they serve can thrive."
