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The UK media has rightly highlighted the behaviour of some MPs and other political figures who have flouted coronavirus lockdown restrictions because, apparently, they thought they were above the law.

In the Third Sector, we often think that we are above such behaviour, and that the actions of a few charity executives or trustees in cases […]

As the coronavirus crisis shows no signs of a solution, two valuable surveys of UK charities have recently been published: “What does the future hold for fundraising in the UK?” from UK Fundraising; and ProBono Economics’ joint survey with the Chartered Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Charity Finance Group: “Weathering the storm: PBE Covid Charity […]

If you’re looking for advice on fundraising, it’s unlikely the Church Times would be your first port of call. It is a publication known for informed and independent reporting of Church and world news, but not necessarily for fundraising home truths.

Step forward the Very Revd Dr Michael Higgins, who is a former Dean of Ely […]

It’s a truism in fundraising that you can never say “thank you” too often. Thanks on receipt of a grant or gift; and thanks on later occasions such as the completion of the project or purchase of the equipment for which the grant was made.

I favour thanks as well when a later application for funding […]

Wherever we look – well, perhaps not quite wherever we look – coronavirus seems to be at the top of the charity menu.

Whether it’s the CIOF, NCVO, CAF or NPC, helpful briefing and strategy documents are flowing out, advising us all on how we should be handling the coronavirus now and what we should be […]

Looking back over the last month, it is clear that the doom-and-gloom merchants have not been proved right after all – at least as far as the Third Sector is concerned.

In the same way that an apparent majority of those who have sadly died from coronavirus were suffering from pre-existing conditions, so many of the […]

Last month I wrote about the challenges facing charities during the coronavirus crisis, in particular the small charities that form the majority of Minerva’s clients.

Harold Wilson once said, “A week is a long time in politics” – to which we might now add “A month is a long time in a virus epidemic”.

One of the […]

Looking back at my March blog, I realise how much has changed in just one month.

Brexit, which seemed so important then, has now virtually disappeared from the news – along with much else. Coronavirus is the issue – for page after page in all the main national dailies and on news websites.

Understandably we’re all concerned […]

Charities that are hit financially by coronavirus will only be able to apply for government loans if more than half their income comes from trading activity.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered by the British Business Bank, was announced in last week’s Budget as one of the measures to support SMEs that experience financial difficulties […]

Most small charities are facing funding challenges, if not crises, these days.

Is this the result of Brexit ? Or are people individually giving less to charity? Or is the corporate sector tightening its belt?

Martyn Drake, writing in Third Sector earlier this month, offers 3-4 options for charities suffering an income loss owing to the reduction […]