A new survey of 450 interim managers working in charities has revealed that 84 per cent of the organisations they are stationed at, have increased their fundraising efforts in the last few months.

And the top three areas of opportunity for interim work in the sector in the next six months are in fundraising, project management and business development.

However, three-quarters of the organisations were still making redundancies and nearly a quarter were seeing greater involvement of volunteers or trustees.

While 65 per cent said charity income was dropping, this is an improvement on the same survey six months ago, when 76 per cent reported charity revenues falling.  Then, just 4 per cent said income was rising; in the latest poll some 25 per cent reported increases.

Ian Joseph (pictured), head of the not-for-profit and charities practice at Russam GMS which conducted the survey, said: “Compared with six months ago, it appears that the outlook for the sector is improving, albeit slowly.  May charities are relying on their volunteers more and are asking more of their trustees in terms of financial planning and providing leadership.  Fundraising is also a huge priority for eight out of ten organisations.”