The Institute of Fundraising has put together a four-point manifesto, to ensure fundraising is on the agenda during the party political conference season.
Gift Aid
Government is urged to underpin confidence and support for Gift Aid by guaranteeing that Gift Aid will not be reduced from its current level while at the same time implementing a series of steps that will increase take up by charities.
These include making higher rate Gift Aid a benefit to charities in the same way as standard rate and simplifying the scheme so that smaller charities can benefit more easily.
Skills and Development
A shortage of skilled fundraisers is a major barrier to growth, preventing more charities from supporting their beneficiaries. Major investment needs to be made in promoting fundraising as a career and in supporting initiatives to fund the training and development of fundraisers to promote best practice, innovation and sustainable funding for charities. This will greatly enhance the sector’s ability to provide support in time of recession and beyond.
Legacies
If the number of people who leave to charity in their wills rose from the current 7% to 11%, this would raise an additional £1 billion for causes each and every year. The Institute is calling on Government to support this most cost-effective form of fundraising through match funding to the 130 charities who collectively pool £1 million of their legacy promotion budgets each year in order to raise the profile of legacy giving.
Payroll Giving
The Institute is calling on the Government to raise awareness of and encourage greater take up of Payroll Giving, and to improve its portability. Of the current 24 million employees in the UK using PAYE, only around 10 million have access to Payroll Giving schemes, which means that there is hugh potential for further take up.
