The season of good will and giving is just around the corner – and many charities will be reaching out to donors with their key appeals and campaigns. We know Christmas is one of the most important and valuable times of the year for charities, yet we think it is going to become increasingly difficult to engage donors during this time.
The generational landscape of UK society is being radically transformed. We will see a predicted 2m growth amongst those aged 65 and over by 2020 (Future Foundation), representing a 20% increase on the current proportion of 65+ year olds in this country.
Have you ever wanted a few facts and figures about the sector at your fingertips? Have you wished you could give a journalist a few nuggets of info to show how important the sector is to society?
The latest round of our Journalists’ Attitudes and Awareness Monitor research asked 150 reporters and broadcasters across the media about how well charities understand their needs when approaching them with stories.
Encouragingly, nearly three quarters felt that charities were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ understanding of their needs, while just 8% said they were not. 21% said charities did this 'neither well nor poorly’.
With countless negative stories and shouts of crisis, fundraising has some serious recovery steps to take. Rob White & a few nfpSynergy members of staff take a look at what those might be.
It’s been a tough few months for fundraising.
The complaints have rolled in. The media stories have been rolled out. Heads haven’t quite rolled, but people like William Shawcross have, quite justifiably, argued that the sector is in crisis.
When someone mentions ‘pester power’, the first thing that springs to mind is likely to be children hassling their parents for junk food or the latest toy or smartphone. You probably won’t think first of the positive role which children and young people might have on the adults in their lives.
Over the years I have found your reports and guides to be the most insightful and valuable strategy tools I have ever come across. I’ve directly used your analyses of fundraising portfolios, branding strategies, organisational visions and missions and others to shape the direction of my work and organisation.
I can’t tell you the clarity and value your insights have added to my work, and the contribution it has made to our success and ultimately the beneficiaries we serve.
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.
After 25 years of working, Joe Saxton looks back at his career and shares some advice on survival in work and people management. There are some top tips, entertaining anecdotes and interesting analogies in a piece that is as useful to people starting out in their career as it is to those who have seen it all.
I'm a big fan of nfpSynergy. They provide the strongest opinion pieces in our sector.
Adrian Sargeant - Robert F. Hartsook Professor of Fundraising, Indiana University