Two thirds of people think that charities spending money on rebranding or London offices are wasting donations, new research shows. The study, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, reveals that people feel websites and advertising are a better use of vital funds, while half prefer it when charities are run by volunteers.

Fewer than one in two people agree with charities paying their chief executives, according to a new poll. The results also reveal that the public are still confused about who is actually paid in charities, with many thinking presidents, trustees and patrons draw a wage.

nfpSynergy has long held the opinion that the National Lottery does not need protecting from charity lotteries and that the regulations in place are stifling what could be a very effective fundraising mechanism for good causes. So to coincide with the DCMS consultation on charity lotteries, we surveyed 1,000 British adults to see what they thought.

The results are compelling and are laid out in full in this new free report. 

The new research that we released this week shows that, on average, the public think seven or eight months is about the right amount of reserves for a charity to have in the bank. Around half of those who expressed a view thought six months of expenditure or less was the right level. Interestingly though, when the same people were asked how much a £12 million charity should keep in reserve, the average dropped to around £3 to £4 million.

As it's the season of goodwill, we're giving away The 12 Insights of Christmas. They look at some of the key issues facing the charity sector and include research, interviews and advice from charities and from us. Unwrap our 12 free reports just in time for Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Insights event. If you couldn't make it, thank you for your interest in the event and we hope to see you next time.

Our presentations are now available for free download on this page for anyone who would like them.