UK charities are expecting good times ahead, as an international survey finds that most expect their expenditure and income to increase next year. 

The 2010 State of the Not-for-profit Industry survey (SONI), conducted by Blackbaud in association with the Resource Alliance, surveyed 250 UK charities – in addition to many more internationally – and found they are an optimistic lot.

Three-quarters of respondents expect that demand for their services will increase in 2011 and more than half expect their total expenditure to rise. But charities are confident they will be able to grow, at least to some degree; 59 per cent expect total income to rise next year, and 53 per cent predict they will be able to boost their voluntary income in the year to come. Just 16 per cent expect income to fall at all next year.

The optimism is wide-ranging, with 15 per cent even expecting income from government to increase next year despite swingeing cuts across all sectors.

In terms of growth areas, 46 per cent expect income from gift aid to increase next year, 42 per cent predict individual giving income will rise and about the same looking forward to a boost in money from major donors. There is limited hope for growth in payroll giving, however, with just 12 per cent seeing this as an area due for growth, potentially a reflection of predicted increase in joblessness following public sector cuts.

The survey was released yesterday at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands.