New Commission Register will detail charities' admin costs

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New Commission Register will detail charities' admin costs 6

Finance | Gareth Jones | 15 Jul 2008

The next version of the Charity Commission’s online Register of Charities will feature a much greater range of information including the proportion of income charities spend on administration costs.

The inclusion of the proportion of administration costs is likely to spark fears of negative publicity among some charities, who will be concerned about public perceptions of how their funds should be spent.

Charity News Alert understands that this additional data will be provided by charities themselves, though it is not clear whether it will be compulsory to do so.

In addition to the new data on offer, it has already been confirmed that the new Register will offer improved search facilities.

This will include greater functionality when searching by the area in which charities are based.

The changes taking place are being conducted by IT and business services company Parity, which last month announced it had signed a contract to extend its role as a strategic partner to the Commission until 2013.

The new Register of Charities is expected to be launched in early autumn.

The Charity Commission said more information would be available about the Register after the summer, but could not confirm any details about it yet.

Who's Who: Gareth Jones

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Richard Elliott
Finance officer
Carers Centre Hull
3 Sep 2008

I am surprisesd that anyone should think this a good idea. There is ample evidence that national statistics which then become league tables are open to massaging, selection and misinterpretation. See education and NHS for evidence. Trust the press to add to the misinterpretation by lampooning their pet hates.

[Reply]

S. Paxlow
none
19 Feb 2011
Response to [Richard Elliott]

This has to be a good idea, too much of our donations to charities is misused often with exhorbitant salaries to people who should if they care so much be working for free.
Why on earth does any charity require multi million pound offices in major cities has always caused me concern. Lets see wher our money goes so we can choose wisely. Yes the fat cats won't like it...good

[Reply]

Paul Wood
27 Aug 2008

I am interested in donating to a charity, however, I want to make sure that it is a worthwhile charity AND that most of the money actually goes to the cause.

How can I research charities and how can I find out what percentage goes to the cause and to admin etc?

[Reply]

Aase Somerscale
Head of finance & administration
Martin House
17 Jul 2008

It would be necessary to specify clearly in connection with this what the Commission classifies as administration costs.

[Reply]

Paula McNulty
Director
Shelter for Abused Women and Children
17 Jul 2008

Running volunteer programmes can seem like a huge, disproportionate administrative cost. The guidelines should take this into consideration and offer some clarification of 'types' of admin.

[Reply]

Penelope Blackwell
16 Jul 2008

It would be so much more useful if we talked about "governance" and not admin costs. Governance is an obligation imposed on all charities/companies to behave in compliance with the law and according to best practice (viz the disasters of Enron, etc). If the public realised that this expenditure was good for the way charities go about their business, the whole boring "admin" issue could be put to rest.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not about how many staff there are in reception, or doing something other than delivering on charity aims.

[Reply]

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