Blog

I make no apology about returning to the issues faced by small charities in the UK – this is where the core of Minerva’s work exists.

I have drawn attention in the past to the short straws sometimes drawn by small charities at the hands of trusts and foundations, corporate donors – and even individuals.

However, I […]

Charity giving and fundraising has been an important part of British life ever since the Statute of Queen Elizabeth in 1601 – and probably even before that.

The coronavirus crisis highlighted so much of what is good in our society, with individuals raising substantial sums for charity or for other groups of people less fortunate than […]

Last month SmallCharity Week came and went, with predictable – and understandable – concerns expressed about small charities’ long term sustainability.

Cue a letter from representatives of some small charities to the Prime Minister, warning him of staff burn out and indeed damage to the mental health of staff and volunteers.

For those who have spent most, […]

Fundraising professionals – like those in other fields too – need to be constantly aware of their target audiences and their views.

This was brought home to me in a recent article in Fundraising Magazine about young philanthropists. The author, Lynda Harwood-Compton, opened with the view that millennials and Generation Z are “…likely to inherit unprecedented […]

Should charities “get political”?

The debate about this, fuelled by remarks by Charity Commission Chairman Orlando Fraser, has generated a considerable amount of comment by, and in, the media during the past month. For example, much has been made of Mr Fraser’s past links with the Conservative Party.

Most, if not all, of us have political […]

Post-coronavirus, charities are finding that recruitment is tough, especially in fundraising. There are many more vacancies than there are fundraisers at all levels wishing to fill them.

For small charities this is a particularly challenging situation. After all, would you not prefer to be Head of Fundraising at a major national or international charity with a […]

Small charities have been hard hit by recent increases in utility costs – of 60% or higher in many cases – and these often have led to charities recording annual budget deficits and the need to use reserves simply to pay for monthly energy bills.

Equally, many small charities have found that their beneficiaries are […]

The Charities Act 2022 is upon us, with its provisions coming into effect on a rolling programme which started last Autumn and is expected to be complete in Autumn this year.

Some of the key points likely to affect small charities include:

Paying Trustees in certain circumstances for goods provided. This was a widening of the […]

The cost of living crisis is upon us!  But what steps should small charities be taking?

Here are some ideas:

Costs

When did you last put domestic cleaning, vehicle servicing/maintenance, stationary supply or utilities out to tender? Now is the time to find out whether you are getting the best value for money.
How much is […]

I make no apologies for keeping on about the problems and obstacles facing small charities in accessing grants, especially from major funders.

But it seems that I am not alone in my views. Earlier this month, the think tank Pro Bono Economics reported that small charities often feel “too scared” to approach large organisations for funding.

This […]