Cass academic shines light on charity fundraising.

By Amy Ripley (PR & Communications Manager), Published (Updated )

The new Top 100 UK Fundraising Charities spotlight report published by Charity Financials provides the opportunity to "assess the damage" of an increasingly difficult funding environment.

The report is written by Professor Cathy Pharoah from the Centre for Giving and Philanthropy, Cass Business School.

Professor Pharoah said this year's financial results indicate that pressures in the funding environment have affected charity growth and there is little to suggest that this might change in the immediate future.

She said the future medium-term challenge for many charities is to maintain their position.

"If they can manage to develop new fundraising techniques or messages which particularly resonate with the public, there is still potential to grow," she said."

Key findings

  • The top 100 UK fundraising charities achieved a total income of £9.1 billion in 2015/16.
  • Fundraising income to the top 100 charities grew by a real amount of 2.3 per cent, well under half of last year's growth rate, and the lowest rate for six years.
  • Total income increased by a real two per cent - a modest achievement in a very difficult climate and well under the growth rates achieved in the previous two years.
  • Seven charity giants held on to the same top seven places in the table as last year despite lower fundraising incomes.
  • Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation remain unchallenged in the top two places of the fundraising table that they have held for the last six years.
  • Animal causes did well, with Guide Dogs for the Blind moving up from 20th to 13th place, the Cats Protection was up from 41st to 33rd, and the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home went up from 60th to 48th.
  • Faith-based charities dominated the fastest growing fundraisers list.
  • Statutory income has increased much less than voluntary income over the last six years.

Hashtags