# Majority of fundraisers positive about future, Status of UK Fundraising report shows

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/02/majority-of-fundraisers-positive-about-future-status-of-uk-fundraising-report-shows/
- Published: 2019-07-02T13:15:24+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Most fundraisers in the UK enjoy their jobs and are positive about the sector’s
future with the economic environment seen as the key challenge by the majority according
to the Status of UK Fundraising report from Blackbaud Europe and the Institute of
Fundraising.**

The second annual [Status of UK Fundraising](https://hub.blackbaud.co.uk/npinsights/the-status-of-uk-fundraising-2019-report)
report, released today at Fundraising Convention (2 July), shows that overall, 84%
of respondents agreed that they enjoyed their job with only 5% looking for a new
role outside of the sector, and 66% positive about the future of the sector as a
whole.

The majority also saw potential future challenges coming from external forces, specifically
the economic climate. While 50% of respondents reported an increase in income and
50% expected income to increase, 67% said the biggest challenge to the sector was
the economic environment.

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Respondents with strategies that had successfully increased fundraising income identified
innovation, skills and investment as being the key deliverers of growth. 62% said
their income growth was planned based on new and different activity while 60% said
they could grow their income because they had enough people with the right level
of skills in place, and 52% said they could grow their income because they have 
the right level of investment in activity.

Over 1,000 respondents completed the survey, of which 65% were fundraisers, 72% 
were female, and 92% were white. 60% of respondents have worked in the non-profit
sector for five years or more. 50% thought the sector was taking appropriate action
to address the issue of diversity, inclusion and equality, with only 21% thinking
their organisation was doing the same. 43% thought their organisation was taking
some steps but that there was more work to be done.

Peter Lewis, CEO at the [Institute of Fundraising](http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/)
said:

> “I’m delighted that this 2019 edition of Status of UK Fundraising is showing that
> those in fundraising say that they enjoy their job and that two-thirds are positive
> about the future of the sector as a whole. Fundraising is a challenging job, but
> even in tough times it’s fantastic to see that fundraisers are relishing the task
> ahead.
> The research brings home how important the key elements of planning, investment,
> and strategy are to fundraising success. Fundraisers who said their charity’s 
> income had decreased were much more likely to say it was because they were not
> resourced effectively or did not have enough people with the right skills.
> “The findings on diversity and inclusion are in agreement with our ongoing research
> that there is clear underrepresentation in the fundraising workforce: only 8% 
> of responding fundraisers are from a black and minority ethnic group, and women
> are under-represented in more senior roles. It’s clear that people feel that the
> sector as a whole needs to do more to address these issues, although there are
> some positive signs that respondents see appropriate action being taken, particularly
> within their own organisations.”

David Benjamin, [Blackbaud](https://www.blackbaud.co.uk/) International Markets 
Group President added:

> “Respondents to the survey told us that the keys to success are to innovate, plan
> and invest – and this is definitely something we can all learn from. 62% told 
> us their income growth was planned based on new and different activity, 60% said
> they could grow their income because they had enough people with the right level
> of skills in place, and 52% said they could grow their income because they have
> the right level of investment in activity.
> “We want to thank everyone who participated and helped us deliver this comprehensive
> view of the state of fundraising in the UK.”

 * **[Blackbaud acquires social impact tech firm EVERFI](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/01/06/blackbaud-acquires-social-impact-tech-firm-everfi/)**(
   6 January 2022)
 * **[Blackbaud to support Microsoft SQL Server 2000](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/06/16/blackbaud-support-microsoft-sql-server-2000/)**(
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 * **[Blackbaud launch series of regular educational forums](https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/06/03/blackbaud-launch-series-regular-educational-forums/)**(
   3 June 2004)

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