# Charity Commission survey finds nearly all nonprofits impacted by Covid

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/10/29/charity-commission-survey-finds-nearly-all-nonprofits-impacted-by-covid/
- Published: 2021-10-29T09:06:41+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Nearly all charities have experienced some negative impact from Covid-19, whether
on their service delivery, finances, staff, or staff morale, according to research
commissioned by the Charity Commission.**

Yonder surveyed 1,966 charities online between 19 July and 2 August for the Charity
Commission. The result, the [Charity Commission Covid-19 Survey 2021](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-commission-covid-19-survey-2021),
reveals that of the 91% affected by the pandemic, 60% saw a loss of income, and 
a third (32%) experienced a shortage of volunteers.

Nearly half (45%) said they took some action to adapt their services to restrictions
caused by the pandemic.  Some changed the way they delivered services, moving them
online, refocusing on core projects, cutting staffing or spend on things like research.
Around 40% say they dipped into their reserves. Smaller charities were especially
likely to have taken drastic measures to remain afloat or in response to restrictions
with one in four charities with incomes of less than £10k pausing their activities
completely during the first lockdown.

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Looking to the future, over half (62%) of those surveyed anticipate some level of
threat to their charity’s financial viability in the next 12 months, although only
1% foresee that threat as being critical to their charity’s survival. From its own
data the Commission however also warns that other threats may be on the horizon 
relating to governance and culture with it seeing an increase in disputes in charities
and between trustees.

#### Covid impact

 * Covid-19 has predominantly impacted charities’ services and delivery (85%), alongside
   their financial position (72%) and staffing and governance (66%)
 * Work or events have been postponed and cancelled (57%) and many charities have
   lost income from fundraising (49%) or trading and other sources (35%)
 * Operationally, there is frustration caused by the uncertainty around when charities
   will be able to return to ‘normality’
 * 60% have lost income from charitable activities
 * Access to volunteers has decreased for a third of charities
 * Few have encountered or suffered any significant impact from cyber harms

#### Adapting services

 * The most common action taken by charities is adapting their services in light
   of restrictions (45%), followed by using financial reserves (40%) and pausing
   operations temporarily (32%). A fifth have furloughed staff (18%)
 * Restrictions have resulted in less emphasis on in-person events and cash donations
 * Half of charities have made better use of digital technology

#### Future viability

 *  A third (34%) expect to generate less revenue from fundraising and donations
   in 2022
 * Over half (62%) anticipate a threat to their charity’s financial viability in
   the next 12 months
 * However, a majority expect their charity to be in the same or better position
   overall

#### Accessing financial support

 * 20% have accessed Local Authority funding, and 14% have used UK Government funding
 * Half (50%) would find more information on financial support helpful, and often
   suggest the Charity Commission could do more to help charities find/access it

 * **[Interim Charity Commission Chair sees term extended until June](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/01/05/interim-charity-commission-chair-sees-term-extended-until-june/)**(
   5 January 2022)
 * **[Fraser sets out intention to lead ‘fair, balanced & independent’ Commission](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/05/05/fraser-sets-out-intention-to-lead-fair-balanced-independent-commission/)**(
   5 May 2022)
 * **[Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting to take place on 12 October](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/08/09/charity-commission-annual-public-meeting-to-take-place-on-12-october/)**(
   9 August 2022)