Givewell Research - Financial Impact on NFPs
16 March 2009 at 2:50 pm
The gross revenue of Australian charities is up by 3% in 2008 according to the first sample survey of the sector in the current financial crisis. The details of the Givewell research were released at the recent Nonprofit Finance Forum in Melbourne.
The aim of the research into 214 charities was to identify tends in Not for Profit finances to assess if a funding recession is emerging.
The research shows that gross receipts were up 11% overall in 2008 compared to an 8% rise in 2007.
The figures indicate that the rise in overall fundraising is due to an increase in bequest funds. In 2008 they amount to around 18% of charity income, well up on the 2007 figure of just 5%.
In the top ten fundraisers, three recorded a drop in revenue: World Vision down 1% to $333 million, Boys Town down 2%. Red Cross also recorded a downturn however the figures do not include the additional $210 million raised in the recent Victorian bushfire appeal.
As part of Givewell’s 2009 Fundraising Appeals Survey a nine question survey compared data from appeals/events/campaigns undertaken since July 2008 with the previous year.
Some 63% of recipients had carried out a campaign in that time and overall there was a decline in dollars of 4.2%.
Some recipients said there was a higher response rate but a lower average of gifts. Others reported that it was harder to get money from private companies this year than last year.
However 77% said they were confident that their actual income will be within 10% of their budget.
Overall the consensus was that some income streams will contract but others will continue to grow with diversity of programs and approaches and target markets being the key to success.
