New report explores how to sustain and increase charity funding for the future

Increasing individual giving to £20 billion by 2020 is one of the key objectives put forward by a new report which explores how to ensure charities' financial sustainability over the next ten years.
 
Funding the Future (PDF, 3.68MB) offers a ten-year framework for how the voluntary and community sector can stay financially resilient when faced with depleted resources coupled with increasing demand for services.  It sets out clear recommendations for civil society organisations (CSOs), funders and commissioners, infrastructure bodies and the government to bolster all income streams for the sector, including individual giving, trading income, grants, public sector contracts and private investment.

It suggests that individual giving can be increased from £11.3 billion to £20 billion by 2020 through increased donor engagement, better fundraising approaches and via a 'Better Asking' Campaign, developed by NCVO in partnership with the Institute of Fundraising and other sector bodies.

The report also explores how to increase the share and quality of public sector contracts for CSOs, increase trading income and commercial sector support and attract more private sector investment.

Funding the Future is the final report of our Funding Commission, which began work in February 2009.  The Commission was set up to respond to the sector’s concerns and uncertainty about funding over the next ten years and to set a new funding agenda.

Fiona Ellis, Chair of the Funding Commission, said:

"Funding the Future sets out the financial architecture required to ensure a healthy civil society.  The recommendations may be ambitious, but it is critical that everyone involved works together to realise them as fully as possible.  In the challenging times ahead, charities will need to ensure they have a financial safety net so that they can continue to deliver vital services where they are needed most."

Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of NCVO, said:

"NCVO is committed to taking forward the Funding Commission's recommendations.  Now is the time to recognise that civil society organisations are more important than ever and take the steps required to ensure that they can play their role to the full."