# Do you believe the Guardian? - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/02/do-you-believe-guardian/ - Published: 2008-12-02T18:09:29+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake [Monday’s Guardian claiming charities were losing faith and hope](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8107360), though a sub-eds dream headline was very far off the mark re PriceWaterhouseCooper’s report on their recession survey. Though non of us are, I hope, in denial about the recession the country has talked itself into, the report gave many grounds for faith, hope and positive action. Some of the positive points I picked up on were: the sector is more reliant on government funding than in the 1990 recession and government is not keen on letting the recession deepen more than can be avoided; the economy is different to last time, but so is the sector with better reserve policies, more sophisticated funding arrangements and I think more professional fundraising in play. Trusts are expected to maintain the level of their grants but cut discretionary grants, membership income is often expected to hold up and few charities have seen a downturn to date, only 14% of respondents have seen a reduction in giving from major donors (so those bonuses are still safe?), trading income (shops etc) may see an increase but only if they can really supply quality goods, which some people may now sell on ebay. ## Advertisement Expenditure is where the best CEOs can really win by ensuring they do not plunge their organisations into deficit by not having the strength of character to say no to extra programme work, but investing in fundraising. Indeed, 62% of charities intend to expand their fundraising next year. Those who cut fundraising budgets are likely to suffer a prolonged recession. * **[Laid-off bankers unlikely to find employment with charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/03/laidoff-bankers-unlikely-find-employment-charities/)**( 3 December 2008) * **[A quick crunch survey](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/06/quick-crunch-survey/)**( 6 December 2008) * **[Gift Aid supporting running costs](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/02/19/gift-aid-supporting-running-costs/)**( 19 February 2009) ## Comments ### By: Alastair Irons - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/02/do-you-believe-guardian/#comment-3424 - Published: 2008-12-02T19:00:09+00:00 If only … If only the recession was just something the ‘country has talked itself into’ we’d be able to believe that a nation of people, each as unique as the snowflakes falling today, collectively willed banks to fail, shops and factories to close, visited redundancy on thousands upon thousands of people and used only rhetoric to throw them out of their homes. If only the recession, economic downturn or even depression – call it what you will– was simply willed into being, so we could just wish it away again … Actually, now you mention it, if it’s as easy as that, I might just give it a go. But before I do, I’m going to talk Little Shilling into winning the 3.10 at Plumpton on Wednesday 🙂 Alastair Irons Executive Creative Director, [http://www.twcat.co.uk](http://www.twcat.co.uk) Chairman of Trustees, [http://www.iprescue.org.uk](http://www.iprescue.org.uk) Director, [http://www.ourworldoursay.org](http://www.ourworldoursay.org) ### By: admin - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/02/do-you-believe-guardian/#comment-3425 - Published: 2008-12-03T16:13:10+00:00 Looks like UK Fundraising should move into the betting business. Alastair’s nap came in first, as he suggested, at 5/4 an hour ago! [http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvType&id=162](http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvType&id=162) ### By: johnbaguley - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/02/do-you-believe-guardian/#comment-3426 - Published: 2008-12-06T18:04:24+00:00 Wow an instance of foresight being more accurate than hindsight! Economic bubbles, like real bubbles, build by us all blowing our small breaths together and then we lose confidence and stop exhaling putting our wallets back in our pockets. Until we all get them out again, and feel it is safe to spend, the economy will languish as companies can’t shift goods and services so people are laid off etc. Unfortunately, we can’t do this on our own so it takes a collective agreement which happens as we talk ourselves back into the market as individuals, organisations etc. Ok it is slightly more complicated than that, but only an act of faith keeps the financial world’s trading turnover worth much more than the actual cost of goods and services. All together now… “Its going to be a great year for fundraising”. John Baguley ### By: petermaple - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/02/do-you-believe-guardian/#comment-3427 - Published: 2008-12-09T13:18:37+00:00 John is certainly correct in contrasting the Guardian headlines with the views actually published by the Institute of Fundraising and CFDG. However as Alastair reminds us we are indeed in the grip of a global recession and, apart from the odd informed flutter, need an effective strategy to overcome the FUD (fear uncertainty and doubt) factors so prevalent. Until people feel that things have bottomed out nobody is sure of what they or their businesses are worth. Perception is everything so those who succeed in striking a cord with all that uncertainty are most likely to succeed with their fundraising. Crisis UK are running new advertisements asking: “Will you give just half of what you might otherwise have given?” It is certainly a high risk donor recruitment ask– but, given the circumstances, it might just ring the right bells.