Why charities should share expertise (and where they can find it)

The cost-of-living crisis in the UK is a cause for concern for many, not least charities. Charities, who face a steep rise in demand for their services as a result of the crisis and the financial uncertainty experienced in their communities, need to find a way to raise funds sensitively to support their efforts.  

This “cost-of-giving" crisis is a challenge that charities are encountering now, as supporters struggle to find funds to donate to their causes.  According to research from the Charities Aid Foundation, almost two thirds of people plan to cut back on discretionary spending to manage living costs, while one in eight were considering reducing charity donations as part of this. 

However, as we saw during the pandemic, generosity itself is not in short supply. In summer 2021, seven in ten people said they had given to charity in the previous three months, a rate that had remained consistent since October 2020. Just as they did then, it is vital that charities work together to innovate and share new ideas and methods of raising funds.  

Why charities should share expertise (and where they can find it)

Simply put, what’s good for one charity is good for the sector. Nearly half of Gen Z alone supported three or more causes in summer 2021, demonstrating that charities should not fear competition, but embrace their collective success.  

Charities, given their propensity for adapting during a crisis, are in a great place to share lessons on what works and what doesn’t when interacting with their supporters and launching fundraising campaigns. While every charity is different, these lessons provide actionable insight that can inspire change, lead innovation, and ultimately, help the sector survive during times of hardship.  

There are many places where charities can find this invaluable insight, including events, webinars, and even on social media. Charity Digital has produced a wide variety of content on the cost-of-living crisis, including tips on how to support staff and insight into how charities are responding to it.  

Sector-specific events are also being held to help charities, such as Access Group’s Access All Areas sessions, which cover the latest innovations in fundraising and how technology can support them. The sessions are free to attend and take place between 8 and 10 November 2022.  

Charities do not need to be Access customers to attend and can find out more about the sessions here. The sessions, which are all certified by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certification service, include tips on how to build trust through your charity website and how to adapt and create more resilient fundraising strategies to minimise the impact of the economic crisis.  

Charities can find additional information on what other charities are doing to combat the cost-of-living crisis in Access’ report, The Cost of Giving Crisis.  

The report has “gathered voices from in and out of the sector to hear what advice they’d give”, and features four case studies from non-profit organisations, including Cornish homelessness charity St Petrocs and Sheffield Hospitals Charity, outlining the changes they made to their fundraising processes and what worked for them.  

Charities can also make use of online support from industry organisations like the Charities Aid Foundation, NCVO, and Charity Excellence, who are delivering a comprehensive package of resources to help charities navigate the cost-of-living crisis.  

It’s clear that the cost-of-living crisis is going to bring financial hardship to many in the coming months, both for the people that charities support and charities themselves. Whatever their circumstances and whatever their cause, charities must continue to look to each other for support in order to adapt and move forwards, as they did in 2020.