As Reform UK gathers a head of steam, charities are asking themselves fundamental questions. Should they engage with the party on policy issues like they would with any other? Or should a party with very different values from many in the sector be beyond the pale for charity public affairs teams? We debated this topic at nfpResearch in one of our recent monthly knowledge meetings. Views were split. Some colleagues argued that charities must take the pragmatic approach and work with those in power.

This October, our two directors, Cian and Tim, will be crossing the Atlantic for an important research and learning trip. With stops in Ottawa, New York and Denver, the visit will be anchored around two major events: the Imagine Canada Leadership Roundtable (7–9 October) and ComNet25 (15–17 October). Both will provide a chance to share our work, learn from peers and strengthen international connections.

Why these events matter

Charity brands don’t live in your logo, and they don’t live in your brand guidelines either. A brand exists where your charity exists in the minds of others – in what people believe you stand for, how you make them feel, and what they say about you when you’re not in the room.

Charities and nonprofits are under increasing pressure, but what do those pressures look like from the inside? From the funding landscape to workforce wellbeing, from shifting political winds to questions of public trust, it can be difficult to keep track of all the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in 2025.

There’s no shortage of conversation about risk in the charity world. But there’s far less data.

When I first started working in the charity sector, I had only a vague idea of what a charitable trust or foundation was. The names were often historic – usually a person long since deceased – and they seemed to sit quietly in the background, influential but invisible. I doubt I was alone in that confusion, but I wanted to find out for certain how the average person would get on explaining what these organisations are and  what they do.

What does the public know?

Maia Coelho

Support for charities is personal, and a strong brand personality is key to creating lasting emotional connections amongst current and potential supporters. But what makes the ideal charity? Let’s uncover the attributes that truly resonate with people.

As we approach the end of the year, the team at nfpResearch would like to take a moment to wish all our partners, clients, and friends in the charity sector a joyful holiday season. It’s been an eventful year for us, filled with meaningful research, new initiatives, and exciting opportunities to share our findings with you. This has included a refresh of our product line, and the addition of our sector data monitor nfpIntelligence.

In our most recent webinar, hosted October 8th 2024, we explored the importance of effecti

Naomi Croft

On Wednesday 5th June we hosted an online event sharing clips and analysis from interviews we did with members of the UK’s ethnic minority communities regarding their engagement with charities. This was an opportunity for charities to get a deeper insight into how these under-represented audiences engage with the third sector and what could be done to better involve them through donations, awareness, and volunteering.

From all of us here on the nfpResearch team, we want to say:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!