News

NSPCC enlists staff in fundraising push

Fundraising | 6 Jan 2009

The NSPCC is concerned it won't meet its annual fundraising target of £140m because of the looming recession, and staff have been asked to take part in an extra fundraising push leading up to Christmas.

Interim chief executive Wes Cuell sent an email to all employees asking them to encourage friends, family and contacts to think about supporting the NSPCC through Christmas products, services and donations, and a second message was sent by directors including director of fundraising, Giles Pegram (pictured).

Pegram told Charity News Alert that the organisation had "never faced anything like this before in the last 30 years".

"We are, as the NSPCC, extremely concerned that the amount we can do for children is dependent upon the fundraising, which is not the case with all charities.

"People know there is a recession and people are having a tough time. I cannot remember a year when us getting to our income targets is so important. We are having to make cuts in services and activities and those cuts will be directly impacted by the money we raise."

Legacy income down £2m

Pegram said legacy income is down £2m on last year, and other income streams are also showing signs of decline. He also confirmed the charity will be making further redundancies.

"Legacy income is down because we are dependent on house prices. We are also beginning to see signs that cash giving is down, upgrading of regular giving is down, acquistion rates are down and attrition is up," he said.

"There have been some redundancies and others will be announced in the new year.

He added: "We are not gloomy, but we are very conscious that is going to be harder to raise our income target this year than any other year I can remember.

"Staff are doing bucket collections, cake sales just to raise those few extra pounds. I know in the context of £140m it does not seem much but the gestures staff are making is fantastic.

"It is going to be difficult to meet the target for this year and therefore we could be showing a deficit as an organisation and that is not something our trustees see as sustainable going forward."

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Directory: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)