The Funding Commission in the UK (set up by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations) has reviewed the state of individual giving in the UK - from 2007/2008 to 2008/2009 giving declined by 12% in real terms. Our own benchmarking report of the tax campaigns of 28 Australian charities showed that between the 2009 and 2010 campaigns the money raised per donor mailed decreased by 8% (but charities contacted 11% more people so the gross still grew 2%).
The Funding Commission's response is to propose a campaign - the Big Ask - which aims to:
- Improve the quality and effectiveness of all forms of fundraising
- Help develop, support and promote innovative approaches to asking
- Promote the importance of the work of civil society organisations (CSOs)
It will do this by working to "increase the confidence and the competence of all those involved in asking for funds for charities, including trustees, chief executives, paid fundraisers, volunteer fundraisers and communications staff."
A great idea, and I just hope it works! Regardless, I'm sure we will be able to pick up many good ideas by following the process. The paper form the Commission is here:
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/sites/default/files/Paper_7_Individual_Giving_0.pdf
