The Benchmarking Project’s Post

SCOPE, a not-for-profit expert practitioner service operated by SUEZ UK, has donated more than £35,000 to 83 charities across the UK – bringing festive cheer to thousands of people. Established four years ago by Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer at SUEZ, Stuart Hayward-Higham - SCOPE designs and implements solutions for organisations looking to reduce waste and maximise resources at every stage in their value chain. The profits from these solutions go into the SCOPE Christmas fund for local charities, ensuring positive change for communities and the environment. All charities were nominated by our staff, who were invited to put forward organisations in their local communities that are working to support those in need over Christmas. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eWvryEdv #PeopleAndPlanet #SocialValue #GivingSomethingBack

Small charities are the glue that holds our communities together ❤️ In Islington, approximately 1,395 of the 1500 charities working here are classed as small charities; most as very small, with an income of under £100,000. These organisations are the backbone of our community. They provide safe, familiar spaces for local people, are often the first responders to people in crisis, and are shaped by the communities they serve. But small charities and their staff are under huge pressure. "As local funders, we hear from many groups that fundraising has become harder, while the need for their services continues to increase. we have received more applications to our recent open rounds and, in addition, are seeing more charities dipping into their reserves in order to meet increased costs." ~ Anne Shewring, Programme Director Cripplegate Foundation Islington Giving As funders, there is more we can do to support these vital grassroots organisations - from increased funding to reducing the demands we place on accessing this funding. Read Anne's blog to learn more: 🔗 https://shorturl.at/jII7h #SmallCharityWeek #LoveYourSmallCharity #Funding #Islington #Grantmaker #IslingtonInsights

Lots of interesting stats in this report. Among them, these stood out for me: 🔸 In 2023, less than half of board of director positions in non-profit organizations were filled by women (47.3%). 🔸 Around one-tenth (9.8%) of all board of director positions are filled by members of racialized groups.  🔸 Individual donations were a more important source of funding among smaller organizations.  🔸 The demand for services and products for larger non-profit organizations increased more than for smaller organizations. 🔸 81% of non-profit organizations had volunteers. Of these, 44.7% of organizations had 1 to 19 volunteers, 29.1% of organizations had 20 to 99 volunteers, and 8.0% of organizations had 100 or more volunteers.

📽️ Apex’s ‘life-changing’ projects in Tanzania Since 2001, Apex has fundraised over £300,000 for the charity Children in Crossfire to support vital projects in East Africa. Earlier this year, a group of staff from the organisation travelled to Tanzania to see first-hand how its fundraising is having an impact there. The story of the trip is the focus of a new heart-warming video released today, which features Richard Moore, Founder and Executive Director of Children in Crossfire; Sheena McCallion, Chief Executive of Apex; and some of the Apex staff who travelled to Tanzania. Read more: https://bit.ly/417Zu9r

The UK charity sector is grappling with a significant decline in public trust. Over the past decade, the nation’s ranking in charitable donations has fallen from sixth to 22nd out of 140 countries.  This erosion of trust stems from various factors, including 👉🏻 dissatisfaction with traditional fundraising methods, 👉🏻 concerns over “white-saviourism” in international aid, and 👉🏻 perceptions of charities becoming more corporate and less mission-driven. High-profile scandals, such as those involving Oxfam and Save the Children, have further damaged public confidence. To rebuild trust, charities must prioritise transparency and accountability. Openly sharing financial information and demonstrating the impact of donations can reassure supporters. Engaging with communities to understand their needs ensures that initiatives align with donor expectations. Embracing digital platforms can also enhance communication and showcase success stories effectively. Despite these challenges, the sector has shown resilience. By focusing on core values and adapting to changing societal expectations, charities can restore public faith. With dedication and integrity, the UK charity sector can emerge stronger, continuing its vital work in society. #CharityTrust #PublicConfidence #FundraisingReform #CommunityEngagement #TransparencyInCharity #NonprofitResilience #SocialImpact #AccountabilityMatters #DigitalPhilanthropy #MissionDriven

19 major UK charities, including Oxfam and WaterAid, have written an open letter to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, urging the Government to extend the “soft opt-in” for email marketing to charities and other non-commercial organisations. The letter estimates that by extending the soft opt-in to charities, annual donations in the UK would increase by £290m. 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e8P6dFAB #CharitySector #CharityFundraising #EmailMarketing

The annual UK Giving report from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is very insightful and reveals that an impressive 75% of the British General public contributed to a charity in the last year but it also highlights how some of the most affluent areas are among the least generous. The report makes recommendations such as adjusting donations for inflation and making the most of data. The priority is to foster a more widespread and sustainable culture of giving to support charities that are struggling. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gzw6nQVZ

💡 What types of organisations are affected by ESOS? 💡 All qualifying UK business are affected by ESOS Phase 3, including: 💡 Limited companies 💡 Private companies 💡 Trusts 💡 Partnerships 💡 Universities which receive over half their funding from private sources 💡 Not-for-profit bodies which include charities under a corporate body. Get in touch to see what we can do for you: https://ow.ly/8mB950SM7EH #ESOS #energyefficiency #buildingcompliance #energyassessment

Bridging the gap In 2023, amid a cost of living crisis, #SmallButVital charities continued to bridge the gap in public services. We supported 706 small charities across England and Wales, awarding £20.5m funding in total, and commissioning 871 new development support projects to help charities overcome challenges and develop their capacity and services. We continued our work in 12 communities, bringing together local people, groups and organisations to design and deliver services that effectively meet the needs of local people. We also used our platform to influence the UK Government, responding to 11 government consultations and parliamentary inquiries, championing the expertise and experience of small charities and the people they serve and advocating for them to get the support they need. In the first full year of implementing our strategy, Building a Better Future, we focused our work around achieving impact in four areas: - strengthening resilience - building connections - amplifying voices - championing equity Discover our progress across all these themes, alongside stories from our charity partners and the people they support, in our 2023 Impact Report, Bridging the Gap from this link https://lnkd.in/eU3rFSjF

On November 12, Charity Intelligence Canada released its list of 2024 Top Canadian Impact Charities, and we are honoured to share that Daily Bread Food Bank earned a spot on the list. In addition, were also named one of the Top 10 Impact: Canadian Food Banks and Top 5 Impact: Toronto Charities. These lists are created by Charity Intelligence to help donors find the Canadian nonprofits making the greatest impact. Research analysts determine top impact charities by looking at one key aspect of an organization’s performance: for every dollar donated, what’s the measurable return to clients and society? The Top 10 Canadian Impact Charities are the 10 charities operating programs in Canada that demonstrate the highest value created per dollar spent. Thank you to all of our volunteers, donors, supporters and team members who support us in our mission to end hunger in our community and make the work that we do possible 💛 Learn more about the ratings at: https://bit.ly/3OcyWMo #WeAreDailyBread #Charity #CharityIntelligence #TorontoCharity #FoodBank #EndHunger #Toronto #NonProfit #TorontoNonProfit