Nearly half of small charities fear that they are at risk of closure within a year due to their financial situation, according to new research.
In response to a survey of over 700 charities with incomes under £1m, one in 10 organisations said they had less than six months’ funding left.
Meanwhile, 53% of those surveyed said they were facing increased demand without increased funding, and 63% said decreased grant funding had added to their financial challenges over the past year.
Some 32% of small charities also described having been affected by a significant reduction in public donations, while 64% cited rising operational costs as a key driver of financial strain.
Match funding campaign
The research was published today to mark the start of Small Charity Week, by Big Give, Global’s Make Some Noise campaign and NCVO, which are also running a match funding campaign until 30 June.
Donations made through the Big Give website this week to any of the 189 participating small charities will be doubled, using up to £900,000 in match funding provided by a coalition of philanthropists and funders committed to supporting small charities.
The fund includes money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and contributions from the Reed Foundation and Greggs Foundation.
Saskia Konynenburg, NCVO’s executive director, said: “Through this campaign, we’re not only raising funds, we’re championing the resilience and brilliance of these organisations.
“We’re proud to partner with Big Give and Global’s Make Some Noise on this campaign as a new aspect of our longstanding Small Charity Week initiative, which has always aimed to support and empower small charities, equipping them with the resources and skills they need to thrive.”
James Reed, chair of Big Give, said: “Small charities are the beating heart of our communities but they’re being hit from all sides – they are facing a triple whammy of rising costs, falling income, and increasing demand.
“This campaign aims to change that. Through Small Charity Week, we’re putting them centre stage.
“We know that match funding works as a powerful driver of donations and that people are more likely to give and to give more if they know their donation will be doubled.”
Related articles
