Mencap will invest £11m by 2030 to diversify its fundraising income streams, as part of a new strategy published today.
The learning disability charity expects the investment will enable it to grow its annual fundraised income by £6m in 2030 and £13m in 10 years’ time.
Speaking to Civil Society, Mencap’s chief executive Jon Sparkes said the charity would hire more fundraisers and saw opportunities to grow various funding streams including legacies, individual giving and corporate partnerships.
“We’re currently recruiting a new executive director of fundraising,” he said. “I’m looking forward to meeting whoever it is we recruit, and I think they will then take a good look at how we make that investment.”
The charity saw its fundraised income grow by almost £7m to £17.5m in the year to March 2025, driven by its partnership with prize draw Omaze, which raised £3.9m.
Mencap aims to grow its retail income (£3.7m in 2024-25) to £4.7m per year as its charity shop numbers double to 60 by 2030.
The charity also plans to grow its social care services commissioned by local authorities, which provide the majority of its income (£244m in 2024-25).
It aims to grow the margins its commissioned services achieve from 2.7% to 4.8% by 2030, so it has more money to invest in its services.
Sparkes said Mencap was operating in a “very difficult” financial market but that he was confident the charity could achieve its growth plans and that his conversations with commissioners and donors has been positive in his first 18 months at the organisation.
Staff targets
Mencap’s fundraising plans form one part of its new strategy, which also includes an aim to create a “culture of belonging” for its staff.
This includes a target to employ more people with a learning disability and to provide more volunteering opportunities.
Sparkes said Mencap, which currently employs more than 200 people with a learning disability, is currently working out “precisely what the target will be”.
“We will, absolutely, be growing that and certainly over the last year, following the funding from Omaze, we have been recruiting people with a learning disability in the area of health and wellbeing, and we will keep doing that,” he said.
Mencap’s strategy says it plans to increase diversity in all its teams and improve the retention and career progression of its staff.
Greater understanding
The charity also aims to increase public understanding of learning disability and will produce a brand and marketing strategy later this year.
While its brand review may include a new strapline, Sparkes said he is primarily focused on “how we all talk about learning disability”.
“Way more important than the Mencap’s brand is public understanding, politician understanding, of the barriers faced by people with a learning disability at all in the important stages of their lives, and what we can do about it, whether we’re working with individuals, communities or at a policy level,” he said.
“So we’re doing some work on how we frame learning disability, anything we do with Mencap’s brand after that will be based on that foundation.”
Mencap’s strategy was co-produced with people with a learning disability including engagement lead Ciara Lawrence.
Lawrence said: “Right from the start, I have been really proud to be part of the group at Mencap leading on our fantastic new strategy.
“We want to make sure that over the next five years we continue to speak up for people with a learning disability like me, and I’m really excited about the ambitious work we’re going to do.”
