There is a dearth of quality fundraisers in the UK who can market to high net worth donors, according to Martin Brookes, chief executive of charities think tank New Philanthropy Capital.

Brookes was speaking today at a Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) meeting on bankers, financial services and philanthropy.

Chair of the PASC, Bernard Jenkin asked whether charities were marketing themselves well to the financial sector.

Brookes said the charity sector had started to invest in high net worth donors but in general it was not very good:

“Even fundraisers say this,” said Brookes. “There is a dearth of quality fundraisers in the UK unlike in the US. Therefore it is hard to make pitches to companies such as hedge funds who are used to high quality presentations.

“It’s easy to blame the financial services,” he added. “But charities often do a poor job of marketing themselves.”