# Rogare report reveals fundraising issues for Scotland

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/11/24/rogare-report-reveals-fundraising-issues-scotland/
- Published: 2017-11-24T09:33:57+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Fundraising in Scotland is being held back by a lack of country-specific research
and analysis of giving trends and fundraising practice, and of affordable professional
development opportunities, according to the latest report from fundraising think
tank Rogare.**

 

[Rogare](https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/plymouth-business-school/rogare)’s [_Critical Fundraising (Scotland) Report_](https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/10/10714/Rogare_s_Critical_Fundraising_Report_for_Scotland.pdf),
launched 23 November, was researched and compiled by a task group of Rogare’s International
Advisory Panel, led by Scotland-based consultant Mafe Marwick. It found a need for
more investment both by umbrella bodies and charities into research and analysis.
It also highlights a lack of affordable professional development opportunities, 
which it states is leading to a lack of skilled senior fundraisers across the Scottish
profession and difficulty in recruiting and maintaining high standards.

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The report says:

 

>  _“Umbrella bodies and charities themselves must invest in accessing and producing
> Scotland-specific research and analysis that enable learning and evidence-based
> decision making. Additionally, they must strive to provide a comprehensive programme
> of training and professional development tailored to the Scottish market and accessible
> to fundraisers of all sizes, stages and locations.”_

 

A number of other issues are also identified and developed in the report, including
Scottish fundraising regulations, cuts in public funding, and the implications of
the GDPR and other data protection legislation.

 

The report makes 23 recommendations for tackling the issues including:

 

 * Demand for fundraisers exceeds supply, so new and better recruitment processes
   and induction plans must be developed, with candidate packs that give greater
   insight into advertised roles.
 * Charities should nominate an individual or a committee to take responsibility
   for ensuring data protection compliance. One of their first jobs should be to
   identify the lawful basis for processing activity in the GDPR, and to document
   this.
 * Collaborations must be supported by improvements in training provision across
   the sector and recognition that achieving long-term financial sustainability 
   through self-generated income requires investment. This can be nurtured by both
   national and local government through provision of training. Funders can also
   play a part, by permitting funds for capacity building in their grants, thereby
   recognising their role in helping charities’ long-term financial resilience.
 * Because there is a lack of affordable professional development in Scotland, fundraisers
   in Scotland, at least in the medium term, will need to accept that the learning
   and development support for their charity will be limited. As a consequence, 
   they will need to be proactive, to seek out opportunities and build their own
   personal brand.

 

Mafe Marwick said:

 

> “The aim of this report is to identify and explore the main issues that affect
> fundraising practice in Scotland, and to offer recommendations to tackle these
> issues. We hope that the issues and topics developed in the report will resonate
> with readers, and will be a stepping stone for debate and discussion, and for 
> fundraisers to work together in order to find solutions to the challenges identified.”

 

The[ _Critical Fundraising (Scotland) Report_](https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/10/10714/Rogare_s_Critical_Fundraising_Report_for_Scotland.pdf)
is the second in the series following the publication of _Critical Fundraising (
Ireland) Report_ at the Ask Direct Summer School in Dublin in August. Reports for
the USA and Italy will be published in the spring of 2018 with work on a Canadian
report about to begin.

 * **[Fundraisers invited to participate in Rogare research into ‘donor dominance’](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/02/05/fundraisers-invited-participate-rogare-research-donor-dominance/)**(
   5 February 2019)
 * **[Objections to fundraising during pandemic explored in Rogare project](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/06/25/objections-to-fundraising-during-pandemic-explored-in-rogare-project/)**(
   25 June 2020)
 * **[Paper calls for new ethical approach to framing service users in fundraising](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/04/20/paper-calls-for-new-approach-to-ethics-of-framing-service-users/)**(
   20 April 2022)

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