Misinformation, online hostility and political uncertainty are fundamentally reshaping how charities deliver their work, according to a new briefing by NCVO and insurance firm Zurich.
Published today, the report says charities are adapting to a more volatile operating environment while resilience, organisational confidence and the ability to adapt sustainably are becoming increasingly critical to how they operate.
“While the pressures facing civil society are evolving, so too is the importance of the role charities play in supporting communities, responding to growing need and holding people and communities together through increasing uncertainty,” it says.
The briefing draws on insights from 50 charity leaders, trustees and staff who took part in a series of engagement forums and a summit held during spring 2026.
It highlights how charities are increasingly diverting day-to-day resources into resilience, safeguarding and crisis preparedness, which is difficult to fund.
Concerns about hostility, misinformation and reputational risk are making some organisations more cautious about public engagement and visibility.
Additionally, leaders are navigating increasingly complex decisions with less clarity and certainty.
This means that long-term investment in organisational resilience is becoming essential to sustaining charities' ability to support communities.
Many organisations reported growing concerns about online abuse, misinformation and the impact of wider social division on staff wellbeing, public engagement and organisational confidence.
This has resulted in the cumulative impact of sustained pressure on charity leaders and workforces, with participants describing increasing levels of anxiety, exhaustion and leadership fatigue.
More resources spent on managing uncertainty
Kate Lee, chief executive of NCVO said: “Charities have always been brilliant at adapting to changing circumstances.
“But charities are spending more of their precious time and resources managing uncertainty, safeguarding their people, responding to misinformation and building organisational resilience. These activities are becoming essential, but they come at a cost.
“Operating in ‘protection mode’ is not about charities stepping back from their purpose. But it does reflect that our sector is working incredibly hard to continue supporting communities in the face of growing, and distracting, operational pressures.”
She concluded: “If we want a strong civil society that can continue responding to community need, we must ensure charities have the support, infrastructure and investment required to operate safely, confidently and sustainably.”
A previous report by NCVO in December warned that charities’ employees, volunteers and beneficiaries are feeling “increasingly unsafe” against a backdrop of growing hostility, fear and operational disruption.
Charities including Freedom from Torture have reported spending significant funds on security measures to protect their staff.
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