The public’s understanding and perception of trustees

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

Tim Harrison-Byrne, Co-Managing Director, nfpResearch

Trustees govern charities and are accountable for their direction – yet for most people, they remain almost invisible. Understanding what the public knows and feels about trusteeship matters, not least for efforts to recruit more diverse boards.

In January 2026, nfpResearch polled 1,000 members of the general public in the United Kingdom on their attitudes to trustees, working with the Association of Chairs and Interims for Impact. The sample was representative by age, gender and social class.

Trustee Research Response: Felicia Willow, Interims for Impact

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

Felicia Willow is the Director of Interims for Impact, a community of interim leaders and specialists supporting charities through transition, gaps and crisis. A former human rights lawyer and experienced interim CEO, she has led and advised charities on governance, strategy and crisis for more than a decade. She is also co-host of For Impact: The Charity Podcast, supported by the Benefact Group, whose episode “Public service or private privilege?

From recognition to relevance – what really drives charity preference

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

For a long time, charity brand building has focused on awareness:

  • Are we well known?
  • Are we visible enough?
  • Are we cutting through?

Awareness still matters (if people don’t know you exist, they can’t support you) – but recognition alone is not what drives preference, advocacy or long-term support. The more pressing question today is not “Do people know us?” but “Do we feel relevant?”.

What do Scottish donors and politicians really think about charities?

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

What do Scottish donors and politicians really think about charities? A preview of our Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations findings

If you work in the Scottish charity sector, you will probably recognise the mood. Public goodwill can feel fragile, political attention is stretched and the pace of the news cycle leaves little room for reflection. Against that backdrop, it is worth asking a simple question: what do Scottish donors and politicians actually think about charities right now?

Three priorities for the Canadian charity sector

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

At nfpResearch, we’ve just completed our summer wave of research in Canada. The picture is mixed: trust in charities remains relatively strong, but participation in giving is flat, and optimism about the future feels fragile. Drawing on our latest data, as well as wider sector insights, here are three recommendations for Canadian charities as we head into 2026.

Broaden the base of givers

Are you ready for 2026? Here are the key things American nonprofits should know

Submitted by Rebecca Thomas on

As we head into the final quarter of the year, many nonprofits are deep in review and planning for the year ahead. With this in mind, we've run a series of webinars across the US, Canada, UK and Ireland to share some of the key trends we're seeing in our research that should be on your radar.

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