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Fundraising

Advice and articles to help you focus on the success of your people, your customers, and your organisation.

Joanne Farragher

Charity Finance Expert

The nature of Not For Profits operating in a competitive capitalist economy means there will always be major obstacles to overcome. Limited funding, lack of resources, property challenges and talent retention are just some of the challenges that not-for-profits have been battling for decades. However, 2020 brings a unique set of issues, including regulatory changes involving the new IR35 off-payroll tax legislation.

The Not For Profit sector is likely to be disrupted by these changes, and we expect to see repercussions with regard to volunteer engagement as well as unpaid board members, committee members and ad hoc workers. Those individuals who deliver services through an intermediary, stipends or other third-party payment are all likely to be affected. This article will explore the challenges that Not For Profits face in 2020 and what finance leaders should be aware of to steer the ship through the storm.

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Graham Hewitt

NFP Business Consultant

With Google holding 88% of the global search engine market, Google Ads are a great way to boost charity advertising and direct quality traffic to your site. Get it right and more clicks will soon mean more donations. There’s just one problem:

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Joanne Farragher

NFP Finance and project-based accounting expert

For the charitable organisations that constitute Britain’s £17.1bn third sector, efficiency is the name of the game. There are so many reasons why it’s necessary to cut back or increase revenue – or pursue a programme that mixes the two. In an age where central government funding is being cut, for example, third-sector organisations are often left on the breadline. While the average Brit donates £44 per month to good causes, it’s not nearly enough to meet every charity’s need.

For finance leaders in this world, the solution often lies in shifting away from inefficient processes and towards more efficient, integrated and often digitalised solutions. But how can the sort of organisational culture that supports this kind of development be created? This article will explore this problem and begin to look for some solutions.

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Graham Hewitt

NFP Business Consultant

Asking for money is not easy. Even the most seasoned professionals get spooked. Even more so when pitching to the Board! It might feel like you’re in an episode of Dragon’s Den, but your Trustees have a legal duty to make sure your charity manages its resources effectively. Yes, you need a new website. But costs can creep up. It would be irresponsible of your Board not to ask questions – especially with the Charity Digital Code setting such investments as a strategic and governance issue.

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Graham Hewitt

NFP Business Consultant

In a recent survey of 200 charity leaders one third believed their organisation to be over-reliant on a single source of funding. It is a warning that needs to be heard. In a world marked by years of austerity, the Brexit stalemate isn’t making things any easier. In fact, with sector leaders predicting increased levels of service need (deal or no deal) times look set to get tighter - and no charity wants to see their future bound to the success of one income stream alone.

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Graham Hewitt

3% of the UK’s workforce are employed by the third sector. That’s 865,916 people using their skills to drive charitable vision and purpose. But the sector is fast-paced and changing. Certainly, those working in fundraising have seen a considerable shift. You might still have a bunch of collection buckets in the closet, but the way we give and receive is changing.  Does your charity have the skills it needs to keep up?

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Scott Gray

Head of Payments

The implementation of data protection law GDPR had a major impact on regular giving to charities in 2018 but there are strong signs that confidence is returning. Rapidata, part of The Access Group and a leading payment platform provider for the not-for-profit sector has revealed key trends in regular giving in its latest Charity Direct Debit Tracking Report.

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Joanne Farragher

NFP Financials Expert

Britain’s 163,000 not for profits are vital to wider society, and they meet needs that often slip through the cracks in state-sponsored or private sector organisations. From the delivery of important services to community and regional activism, this sector is hugely important in many ways. But how can software be used to best effect in this sector – and what should an NFP leader look out for when selecting a finance software package?

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Joanne Farragher

NFP Financials Expert

When you’re responsible for project planning in the not for profit sector, there are a whole host of aspects to think about. The most obvious, money, is important – while staffing and project management should also be on your to do list as you plan. This post will delve into these considerations and explain how to incorporate them into your strategy.

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Joanne Farragher

NFP Financials Expert

The not for profit sector is vital for Britain’s society in many ways – and without it, there’d certainly be a black hole where many current service delivery objectives are being met. And as a not for profit finance leader, what’s needed to check that you’re managing money well enough to keep the organisation sustainable for the long term? This article will explore the answers to these important questions and more.

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