# IoF consults staff on cost-cutting plans

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/04/30/iof-consults-staff-costcutting-plans/
- Published: 2013-04-30T08:22:58+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Institute of Fundraising has begun consulting with staff over how it can respond
to cuts in its budget. Current plans involve a net loss of four full-time positions
at the professional body for fundraisers in the UK.

The Institute faces two financial challenges in particular. First, its annual grant
from the Cabinet Office's Office for Civil Society has been tapering down from £
250,000 to £136,000 this year, and will end completely at the end of this financial
year.

Secondly, the Institute is facing a growing irrecoverable VAT burden as a result
of the conferences and Academy training courses that it has been providing, partially
to generate income to offset the loss of the OCS' grant.

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"We are planning for life after the OCS grant", Peter Lewis, CEO of the Institute,
told UK Fundraising.

He had hoped that the Institute's popular small charities programme would have garnered
more ongoing support from grantmaking trusts and corporate supporters but this has
not materialised at anticipated levels.

In addition to hiring its first full time fundraiser recently, the Institute has
therefore focused more on its conference and Academy training programme to generate
income, thereby increasing the VAT bill.

Lewis pointed out that the Institute achieved a growth in income last year and expects
to grow income again in this, its 30th year. In the past year it had doubled the
number of corporate supporters and created new income streams such as its online
certificate in fundraising.

A decision on staffing levels is expected in early June.

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