The Institute of Fundraising’s upcoming meeting on face-to-face fundraising is long overdue and the absence of the PFRA may make it a more productive endeavour, says former PFRA chair Michael Naidu.

Face-to-face fundraising has borne the brunt of the media spotlight, but the sector needs to wake up to the potential powder keg lying in telephone fundraising, says Michael Naidu.

Speaking at the Institute of Fundraising conference 'Ready for the recovery?', the shadow minister for charities, social enterprise and volunteering Nick Hurd laid out three areas that a new Conservative government would help the voluntary sector.

I’m starting to think that the recession is actually good for charities. A decade of growth has left us fat and unfocussed. Now everyone is taking a long hard look at how they use their time and re-rationalising what is effective. I say everyone, but maybe not at sector level. The sector’s “key umbrella bodies” are using their (our?) time to build a case for the government to change the rules on gift aid. Numerous reports have shown that charities are just not maximising their use of the current gift aid system.