JGP News

Members of the public are overestimating how much money those working in the charity sector put towards fundraising, it has been revealed.

In research carried out by nfpSynergy it was indicated that the typical Briton believes some 35 per cent of a third sector organisation’’s income is spent on generating further funds.

Meanwhile, consumers claimed that 23 per cent of incoming money was an acceptable amount for a charity to spend on fundraising.

However, pointing to research carried out by Intelligent Giving it was indicated that charities typically spend between 12 and 25 per cent of their income on fundraising.

Money put towards such an area was shown to vary depending on the size of an organisation and the work they do.

Joe Saxton, founder of nfpSynergy, said: "The public appear to significantly overestimate what charities spend on their fundraising.

"This should prompt charities to better explain the true level of - and the rationale for - all of their costs."

Such news could interest third sector bodies looking to improve their sustainable efficiencies.

Earlier this month Daryl Upsall, founder and chief executive of Daryl Upsall Consulting International, reported that the economic downturn offers fundraisers the chance to improve their working methods and investigate new techniques.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

New tax relief could be offered to those working for UK charities with operations on the continent, it has emerged.

Employees of non-profit organisations looking to address their sustainable efficiencies could welcome the news, which has been reported by ThirdSector.

The proposals arise from a ruling by the European advocate-general that a £15,000 donation to a Portuguese nursing home made by a German donor should be tax-exempt.

Clive Cutbill, partner at law firm Withers, tells the news resource: "The principle this has set is that you should be able to get tax relief on donations to charities across the EU."

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

The move could represent a step forward from the previous position, as ThirdSector suggests many jurisdictions throughout the EU previously allowed tax relief only on charitable donations within their own borders.

It was previously revealed that charities could soon be subject to simplified VAT rules under proposals from HM Revenue & Customs.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

New tax relief could be offered to those working for UK charities with operations on the continent, it has emerged.

Employees of non-profit organisations looking to address their sustainable efficiencies could welcome the news, which has been reported by ThirdSector.

The proposals arise from a ruling by the European advocate-general that a £15,000 donation to a Portuguese nursing home made by a German donor should be tax-exempt.

Clive Cutbill, partner at law firm Withers, tells the news resource: "The principle this has set is that you should be able to get tax relief on donations to charities across the EU."

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

The move could represent a step forward from the previous position, as ThirdSector suggests many jurisdictions throughout the EU previously allowed tax relief only on charitable donations within their own borders.

It was previously revealed that charities could soon be subject to simplified VAT rules under proposals from HM Revenue & Customs.

More about sustainable efficiencies.

A new skills body for those working in the third sector is to be created by the government, it has been revealed.

Funded by the Office of the Third Sector and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the initiative will look to indentify and address skills shortages for both paid and voluntary staff at charities, social enterprises and community groups.

In addition the body will look to incorporate the needs of the third sector when developing frameworks for apprenticeships, training and qualification schemes.

Such news might be of interest to those charities looking to increase the skills framework of their organisation.

Kevin Brennan, minister for the third sector, said: "This will put the third sector’’s skills needs on the same level as other sectors.

"Charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises deal with some of the most challenging social and environmental issues."

He claimed that regardless of whether they work for a small community group or a multimillion pound organisation, it is crucial those in the third sector have the right skills in order to work effectively.

In other news, it was recently revealed that the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to kick-start a research project looking into the reasons why people volunteer.

More skills framework information.

Those working for charities and voluntary groups which are looking to bid for public sector contracts may be on track to receive financial assistance, it has been revealed.

An article on ThirdSector.co.uk states that Futurebuilders England is gearing up for the launch of the Consortia Fund next month.

It was claimed such a scheme would assist third sector bodies to form links as network partners with their peers when competing with private organisations to land large-scale public sector deals.

Johnathan Lewis, chief executive of Futurebuilders, said: "Charities are talking about a lack of power in their marketplace. Most charities don”t have the size to be main contractors."

He added the creation of the fund could help to increase "structural power within the third sector".

However, the quantity of financial resources the Consortia Fund would have has not been revealed.

Meanwhile, Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, recently claimed that the government should make it the law for banks and building societies to donate money being held in dormant accounts to the third sector.

More about network partners.