Concern expects a fall of €5 million
Howard Lake | 17 February 2009 | News
Concern Worldwide expects a drop of €5 million in its fundraising in Ireland for 2008 but given the economic situation is pleased with the result, according to its head of fundraising. Concern raised €45 million in Ireland in 2007 and is estimating €40 million in 2008.
Concern says most donors are continuing to support them but that the average donation has fallen slightly, while the most substantial reduction in support has been from the business sector and wealthy individuals. This was evident in the early part of last year, but worsened towards the year end.
‘‘Most people are continuing to give – and we are extremely grateful for that – but the amounts are down,” said Richard Dixon, head of fundraising for Concern Worldwide.
‘‘While the large donations are down, they didn’t disappear altogether, and they are still going to be around 10-11 per cent of the total donated funds. ‘‘Yes, times are tough, and it would be easy to whinge incessantly, but that would not be beneficial, appropriate or honest, as people have been good in supporting us,” said Dixon.
Concern Worldwide finished last year 7 per cent down on its projections and was ‘‘thrilled’’. Its 2007 accounts show that it raised €55.6 million. Of that, €45 million was for the Republic, with the rest from Britain and the North. It is expected that 2008 will finish at €40 million raised in the Republic.
Concern’s non-government donations break down as follows: 11 per cent from corporate/ large donors (17 per cent in 2007); 80 per cent from individual donations (75 per cent in 2007); and community fundraising – such as treks, fasts and pub quizzes – account for 8/9 per cent.
Some €3 million of the individual donations are left to the charity in wills. This is set to suffer in coming years – estates are taking longer to close because houses are not selling and, when they do sell, they are going for less.
Concern World wide has had to make a number of tough decisions as a result of the deteriorating economy and the tightening of funding lines.
These included not replacing head office staff who have left, closing projects overseas, and a pay freeze for last year and 2009, as well as reductions in all non-essential expenditure, such as travel and subsistence.
www.concern.net
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.