JGP News

A new online resource has been launched for those working in the charity sector, it has been revealed.

The Institute of Fundraising (IoF) has created a forum aimed at helping those small and medium-sized third sector groups that benefit from Gift Aid.

On the portal, charities will be able to get in touch with a range of professional fundraisers and specialists who can advise on using Gift Aid and making use of other tax-effective forms of donation.

In addition, visitors to the forum will be encouraged to share their own experiences of fundraising and examples of best practice.

Such news may be of interest to those charities looking to maintain sustainable efficiencies.

Lee Grant, tax-effective giving project manager for IoF, said: "It is intended to complement the tax-effective giving resources already provided by the institute to encourage small and medium charities in making best use of the full range of tax reliefs."

Earlier this week, Tony Elischer, managing director of Think Consulting Solutions, reported that despite the economic crisis it is important for fundraisers to ensure that their budgets are not cut as their activities are "the lifeline" of many charities.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

It is important that fundraisers working for charities take steps to maintain their budgets during the financial crisis, it has been reported.

Tony Elischer, managing director of Think Consulting Solutions, claimed that despite the economic downturn fundraisers should be looking to invest more money in their activities, ThirdSector.co.uk reports.

He said: "Fundraising is the lifeline of most organisations.

"The chief executives and the finance directors are going to start cutting budgets and the fundraisers are going to have to dig their heels in and say ”absolutely not”."

However, Mr Elischer claimed that the financial climate will mean that fundraisers will have to take steps to cut off any areas of their operation that are underperforming, although when the economy eventually takes a turn for the better, the third sector may be much stronger.

Such comments could be of interest to those charities looking to improve sustainable efficiencies.

In other news, nfpSynergy recently reported that members of the public overestimate how much money third sector organisations spend on fundraising.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

It is important to note the differences between social enterprises and charities, it has been reported.

Nick Hurd, spokesperson for charities, social enterprise and volunteering for the Conservative party, recently stated that there are "very strong" differences between those working for each third sector organisation.

Continuing, Mr Hurd claimed that grouping social enterprise and charities as the same thing is not always of benefit to such institutions.

His comments came at Social Enterprise London’’s autumn conference, where he also reported that social enterprises should work closely with local councils in order to deliver public services.

Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Social Enterprise London, added that if local authorities "really grasped the opportunities" of working with social enterprises than such organisations "could make an even greater impact".

The news might be of interest to third sector bodies looking to improve their skills framework.

At the beginning of this month Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, reported that an increasing number of charities are to work closely with senior civil servants.

More skills framework information.

Those working in the third sector should form a partnership with the government and private businesses in order to successfully tackle the economic downturn.

Such is the assertion of Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), who claims that there is a need to operate as network partners as the impact of the financial crisis are wide-ranging, ThirdSector.co.uk reports.

At a speech at Sheffield Hallam University, Mr Etherington said: "The credit crunch is having a huge impact not only on the economy and across government but throughout civil society."

Consequently, he called for a "tripartite deal" involving the government, businesses and the third society to be created to find a solution to the crisis.

Earlier this month, the NCVO chief executive called on the government to improve funding resources for the third sector by demanding that banks contribute all money being held in dormant accounts to charities and voluntary groups.

More about network partners.

The financial downturn offers businesses the chance to improve - not cut - training for their staff.

So claims Chris Humphries, chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, who states that although the economic crisis might mean organisations are looking to spend less money on skills and training, continuing to do this could help Britain to manage through the recession.

Indeed, he reported that such cost cutting might see the country fall behind other nations, Personnel Today reports.

He claimed: "There is a risk that we will go backwards, but there is also the opportunity to catch up.

"We want people to keep training so we gain ground."

Mr Humphries” comments could be of interest to employers - including those operating in the third sector - who are looking to improve the skills framework of their staff.

In other news, it was recently revealed that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Office of the Third Sector is to launch a new skills body targeting both voluntary and paid staff at charities, community organisations and social enterprises.

More skills framework information.