Resources archive

19 MAY 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it unprecedented turbulence, impacting on life throughout the world. This report looks at some of the impacts it has had on the UK charity and voluntary sector over the last year.

27 Jan 2021

The Covid pandemic demonstrated how vulnerable many fundraising techniques are to the effects of lockdown. Events, street collections/fundraising, shops, and door to door fundraising have all been devastated by the pandemic. So as fundraising income is depressed - in some cases possibly for years - how can charities make up for the loss in income?

22 May 2013

Written by Jonathan Taylor as part of the Clore Social Leadership Programme we've been supporting, this report looks at the role of charity directors and whether they can achieve a balance between leadership responsibilities and participating in their senior team. It summarises the views of 12 individuals, half of whom are ex-financial directors and half of whom are current senior members of charity management teams.

22 Mar 2018

Stories in the media continue shaking the sector. We ran this survey to measure the level of trust in the charity sector shortly after the controversies around Oxfam and other charities, as well as the President’s Club fundraising event, hit the news. Below are some key research findings. The full data charts along with the summary and conclusion are available to download for free below.

5 Dec 2013

After 25 years of working, Joe Saxton looks back at his career and shares some advice on survival in work and people management. There are some top tips, entertaining anecdotes and interesting analogies in a piece that is as useful to people starting out in their career as it is to those who have seen it all.

21 Dec 2015

We would like to thank our clients and partners for inspiring us to keep researching the topical issues in the sector. As part of our Social Investment programme we regularly produce Free Reports and feed our finding back to the sector so any charity regardless its size or sector can find something useful. Here are the 12 popular reports this year.

3 Mar 2015

nfpSynergy has long held the opinion that the National Lottery does not need protecting from charity lotteries and that the regulations in place are stifling what could be a very effective fundraising mechanism for good causes. So to coincide with the DCMS consultation on charity lotteries, we surveyed 1,000 British adults to see what they thought.

The results are compelling and are laid out in full in this new free report.

1 Mar 2018

In 2012 we've produced an in-depth research into the relationship between a charity and a grant maker. We looked at the issue from both sides, surveying charities and interviewing grant makers. The time has come to update our knowledge on the matter and see what has changed.

27 Mar 2013

It's fair to say that lottery deregulation for charities has been an issue for decades. Lotteries have been a staple part of the fundraising scene for years, but they are restricted by legislation and regulation from reaching their full potential.

Charities have taken some of the most effective fundraising mechanisms such as direct debits, direct mail and door-to-door recruitment and blended them with lotteries to create new income streams. While other techniques have waxed and waned, lotteries have carried on bringing in the money.

5 Feb 2018

We continue a series of essential facts and figures on particular regions and audience in the nonprofit sector. This short report presents an overview of the third sector in Wales, the Welsh population, and their levels of trust and the views of Wales based and Welsh-serving charities.

19 Nov 2015

The generational landscape of UK society is being radically transformed. We will see a predicted 2m growth amongst those aged 65 and over by 2020 (Future Foundation), representing a 20% increase on the current proportion of 65+ year olds in this country.

23 Jan 2018

We continue tracking the level of trust in the UK charity sector. This report presents the latest data along with the historical data going as far back as 2006. Below are a few key findings. To see the report in full, please click the download button below.

24 Mar 2015

This is our second major report on volunteering. We published The 21st Century Volunteer in 2005 and it was our most popular free report for many years. But over time, many things in the world of volunteering, charities and the wider economic, social and political climate have changed.

13 Nov 2017

In the last 15 years the Scottish voluntary sector has become a larger part of the Scottish economy. This short report will give you some key facts and figures to feel comfortable talking about charities in Scotland.

17 Sep 2015

Have you ever wanted a few facts and figures about the sector at your fingertips? Have you wished you could give a journalist a few nuggets of info to show how important the sector is to society?

8 Dec 2015

There are over 160,000 charities in the UK1, benefiting a wide range of causes from hospices to international development. We explore facts and figures to try and determine which of these causes appeal most to the general public, but find that the outcome depends on the criteria used. When asked, the public name clear favourites such as cancer and animals, but when their donating and volunteering preferences are considered the picture is far from clear.

21 Nov 2017

Our new free report looks into what the public think of charities providing public services for government, and whether they are put off from giving or supporting charities who receives government funding. Here are some of the highlights. Download the report below to explore it in more detail.

24 Sep 2014

Adverts are everywhere we look these days and it's hardly surprising when the UK advertising market stands at over £14bn. But how much of that is spent by charities? And what do they actually spend it on?

28 Jan 2013

The not-for-profit sector is, by its very nature, innovative. Charities exist to respond to an unmet need or to drive change. But what does innovation actually mean? And what are charities really doing to develop innovation processes, cultures and, more importantly, results?

13 Jan 2016

Has the charity sector been doing enough in response to government funding cuts? ​Local authorities have been subjected to a high level of cuts in the last five years, ​with the Autumn 2015 spending review ​promising to go even further.

1 Nov 2013

Charities, voluntary and community groups, faith based organisations, and social enterprises, together, represent the substantial and diverse social sector.

6 Apr 2016

Are we doing a good job? This is the single most important question a charity, or any other organisation, can ask itself.

30 Mar 2016

Leading charity Law firm Stone King have been spearheading a debate as to what trustees should be considering when assessing how to fundraise.

There are proposals for a new Regulator in the light of inappropriate fund raising tactics, but before that is formally set up, charities are already having to balance their fiduciary duties against pressures to amend their practices.

10 Mar 2016

This report looks at the key trends in how the public engage with politics and how they perceive charity engagement with the political process. It draws on nfpSynergy’s research with a range of audiences, including the general public, MPs and journalists.

16 Mar 2016

nfpSynergy carried out research with 1000 members of the general public in January this year. We were interested in how the public saw charities and their marketing in comparison to other sectors, as well as the levels of complaint for seven different sectors.

10 Feb 2016

The run up to Christmas 2015 was a busy period for charities. Giving Tuesday, big TV adverts and multiple Christmas appeals meant that people had even more contact with charities than usual. But how do the UK public feel about charities at Christmas? Which campaigns are the most successful and why?

15 Jan 2016

The new report – Challenging Cuts – Investigating the response of charities to frontline service cuts – has three main sections which have the following key points.

20 Dec 2015

MPs across all parties want to see tighter regulation of charity fundraising in response to last summer’s media coverage – new research shows. Two thirds of MPs think that we need tighter regulation, and half think that this is necessary even if it means that charities raise less money.

18 Sep 2015

Charities face tough battles ahead on campaigning with many MPs – particularly Conservatives – new research shows. Two thirds of Conservative MPs think that the charity sector is too political, and one third think that charities should not campaign in Parliament at all.

21 May 2015

Almost one in two people find it ‘very annoying’ to be asked to give to charity on their doorstep or over the telephone, according to new research. A third of people also dislike being approached to sign up to a charity in the street, with collection buckets the preferred way to be asked for money.

20 Jul 2015

Are you a charity? Ever had difficult issues or questions from the media or the public? We're putting together some training for around 50 people in the sector. Find out more below.

12 Feb 2015

The Lobbying Act has been a source of controversy in the charity sector since its introduction in January 2014, but what has it actually changed? We have conducted 19 in-depth interviews on the subject with a range of sector professionals, which revealed widespread anxiety and confusion over what the new legislation means for charities and the future of the sector.

18 Dec 2014

It's Christmas time and as per tradition we're giving away 12 more of our reports. They address key issues like lobbying, fundraising and trust, plus a couple of niche ones like Gift Aid and media spending. Enjoy!

16 Oct 2014

A comprehensive look at the history of Gift Aid and how a few changes could make it even better.

11 Jul 2014

Whether or not Scotland votes for independence, the future of the country is set to change. As politicians continue to debate what independence could mean, we have analysed what MSPs and the general public think the impact of a ‘Yes’ vote would have on Scottish charities.

19 Mar 2015

With our 100th free report on the way in the next few months, we thought we'd take a look at some of our recent ones. All 99 reports are available free on our website, but here's a snapshot of the top 10 most downloaded in 2014.

26 Jun 2015

Two thirds of people think that charities spending money on rebranding or London offices are wasting donations, new research shows. The study, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, reveals that people feel websites and advertising are a better use of vital funds, while half prefer it when charities are run by volunteers.

18 Dec 2013

As it's the season of goodwill, we're giving away The 12 Insights of Christmas. They look at some of the key issues facing the charity sector and include research, interviews and advice from charities and from us. Unwrap our 12 free reports just in time for Christmas.

13 Dec 2012

Free Reports of Christmas

4 Jun 2015

Just one in 17 people think charities should save more than a year’s expenditure for a rainy day, a new study shows. A third of people favour reserves of less than six months’ spending, while only one in ten agree it should be whatever a charity decides.

21 May 2015

Donors, volunteers and beneficiaries should be consulted before a charity changes its name, a new report warns. It also says the best charity names are “memorable, inviting and can’t be shortened.”

24 Apr 2015

This is a paper to set out the issues and create a strategy for the next three years for ‘Improving media coverage’, Strand 3 of the Understanding Charities group. The idea of the paper is very much to try and reach a clear strategy for how we move forward on Strand 3. This may be by getting a high level of agreement with the strategy contained in this document.

1 May 2015

Fewer than one in two people agree with charities paying their chief executives, according to a new poll. The results also reveal that the public are still confused about who is actually paid in charities, with many thinking presidents, trustees and patrons draw a wage.

3 Mar 2015

Three in four people feel that charity lotteries should be free to raise as much money as the National Lottery, new research shows. Just the Ticket, written by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also reveals that most people feel lotteries run by good causes should not be capped and do not affect their other donations.

18 Sep 2013

In 2010, the think tank Demos published a report entitled ‘Dying for Change’ highlighting some of the challenges facing hospices in the future. Help the Hospices responded to this by setting up the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care to provide guidance, information and options for hospices to inform their strategic position and offerings in the next 10 to 20 years.

22 Oct 2012

As part of our work with Help The Hospices, we held a conference for representatives from the industry to discuss the future of hospice funding and other issues facing the sector. We had many attendees from up and down the country, with our insightful presentations provoking some excellent debate among those present.

26 Feb 2015

People now prefer to buy from charity shops rather than online marketplaces like eBay, new research shows. The data, released by nfpSynergy, also shows that four in five of us have visited a charity shop in the last year, up from two thirds a decade ago.

5 Jun 2014

We've been sending out quite a few free reports recently, so we thought we'd put them all in one convenient place. Here's a preview of what's available.

4 Sep 2014

This is the second part of our new volunteering report and you can download it free in the top right hand corner of this page. It's being released in seven parts.

5 Jan 2003

The impact of social and economic change on the voluntary and community sector is far-reaching. It is a fallacy that the sector is insulated from the wider world in which it operates - yet many charities remain largely uninformed about the future they face.

9 May 2014

We have combed through the comments we received from MPs in this year’s Charity Parliamentary Monitor to get a sense of which campaigning tactics used by charities are the most effective.

18 Sep 2012

This is the first in a series of guides from CharityComms, the sector communciations body. It was written by our Driver of Ideas, Joe Saxton, as part of his role as Chair of CharityComms.

8 Jan 2014

As the Lobbying Bill trundles through Parliament, the nightmare of charities being severely limited in politically representing their beneficiaries threatens to become a reality.

15 Feb 2003

The Innovation Roadmap is designed to guide homelessness and other voluntary organisations towards a culture of more systematic innovation.

7 Jan 2006

"While living in Bangladesh and working in the not-for-profit sector, I’ve been continuously interested, amazed and even perplexed by the activities of not-for-profit organisations. Bangladesh is so often portrayed as a disaster prone area, a passive recipient of aid. In fact this unique and dynamic country has many positive experiences to share.

15 Dec 2014

The final instalment of our volunteering report is here at last. It’s shorter and punchier than the previous ones and is more opinionated overall. It also has no charts or diagrams.

8 Oct 2014

An overview of how transparent 50 UK charities are, based on the investigations of nfpSynergy's researchers.

13 Aug 2011

The Clore Social Leadership Programme aims to develop and connect aspiring leaders in the social sector who are working for the benefit of individuals and communities across the UK. nfpSynergy has been supporting Clore fellows on their research projects through a mixture of research.

16 Aug 2013

This is a presentation of our data on the public's opinion about charity spending. We also have a video of this presentation here, presented by Joe Saxton, with some great insight and explanation of what the data means for charities.

11 May 2011

This is a report we wrote to compare the "social media presence" (index reflecting Facebook ‘likes’, Twitter ‘followers’ and YouTube ‘subscribers’) of all UK charities. The report also analyses the Top 50 UK charities by fundraised income - comparing the Top 25 of those against the 25 most popular UK shops, and the Top 25 FTSE companies by market capitalization.

23 Oct 2014

Parts 4 and 5 of our volunteering report look at motivations, engagement and retaining your volunteers.

20 Nov 2014

Part 6 of this report looks at managing the 21st century volunteer. This instalment examines the views of some of the people closest to the changing landscape of volunteering; the volunteer managers themselves.

18 Nov 2013

Charity chief executives have recently found themselves under the spotlight in one area more than any other; their salaries. Plenty has been said about the public objecting to anyone at a charity earning over £100k a year, but we have been looking at how we got to this stage. Our data, drawn from the country’s top 50 most recognisable charities, looks back at CEO pay from 2007-2012 and what drives it.

13 Dec 2012

In today's world, a charity's brand has become a vitally important part of its appeal. Branding Inside Out, produced by CharityComms, has been compiled with the guidance of a steering group of brand experts.

4 Jan 2004

This report aims to help voluntary organisations better understand the nature of the current technological revolution and plan for the future accordingly.

1 Apr 2003

A research report on charities’ attitudes to Gift Aid and its marketing, complete with results from our survey.

10 Dec 2014

This is the first edition of our new measure of donor confidence. Similar to the one that measures consumer confidence, the Donor Confidence Index brings together six questions asked to the general public over the last four years to provide an invaluable indication of how they feel about charities.

16 Oct 2014

The charity sector has a great opportunity to reform Gift Aid and maximise donations if it speaks to the next government as a combined force, a new report argues. ‘Give and Let Give’, written by research consultancy nfpSynergy, evaluates Gift Aid since its inception in 1990 and argues changes are needed as it has become too complicated and bureaucratic, particularly for the small charities it was specifically set up to help.

19 Nov 2014

Two in three volunteer managers feel they need a more powerful representative body, according to a new report. The New Alchemy, written by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also reveals that many of them feel volunteering suffers from inadequate leadership in several key areas.

23 Jun 2014

The public’s trust in charities has fallen by 10 percentage points in the last year, new research suggests. They now appear seventh in a newly published list of the most trusted institutions, coming behind the Royal Family and small businesses for the first time.

12 May 2014

It is vital for charities to talk to MPs early, often and about credible campaigns, according to a new report out today. ‘Nine campaign tactics for charities to consider before a General Election’ is written by research consultancy nfpSynergy and urges charities to act quickly and effectively.

10 Sep 2014

Just two in five Conservative MPs think charities should be challenging the government and political parties and more than a third are against it, new research shows. The study, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also suggests that almost all Labour MPs are in favour amid deep divisions over charities and their lobbying activities.

11 Jul 2014

The two largest political parties in Scotland are split over the impact independence will have on charities, new research suggests. ‘Walking the Tightrope- five recommendations for charities to engage with Scotland’s changing future’, a new report published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, shows that while Labour and Scottish National Party MSPs disagree on the repercussions of independence, a third of the public are uncertain about what it would mean for charities.

11 Jun 2014

More than half of people think charities should be out spending their money rather than saving it, according to research out today. The poll, carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy, reveals that over a third of think charities should have less than six months’ worth of expenditure in reserves.

29 May 2014

Charities have always relied on fundraising to survive, coming up with new and exciting methods alongside the staple ones that have existed for years. But how do they recognise the impact donors have on their work? And how do they say thank you?

19 May 2014

The general public, the sector's donors, are changing. Society is ageing, living longer, using the internet on mobiles and ordering 87,000 different types of coffee.

16 Apr 2014

Global communication has created possibilities and connections, but also some problems. It has, however, opened up new opportunities for non-profits everywhere to engage with their communities and key audiences. We know digital fundraising is an area for growth, but what does this mean for non-profits in different environments?

6 Jan 2014

More than half of people think that charities should be able to lobby the government to further their cause, a new report suggests. The Politics of Charities, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also shows that a charity campaigning to change the law just puts one in 25 people off donating, while MPs and journalists are apparently wary of non-profits becoming political.

5 Jan 2014

A full list of all nfpSynergy's Monitors and prices for 2014.

11 Dec 2013

Charities are likely to lose donations from the public if they are thought to be spending too little on their cause, new research suggests. The poll, carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy, found that 62% of people say this is their main reason not to give to good causes, making it the top choice for four years running.

2 Feb 2013

The general public are still not completely sure who is paid in charities, new research shows. The poll of 1000 people, carried out by consultancy nfpSynergy, also found that people are divided on who should be drawing a salary from non-profits.

20 Dec 2013

Charities could be missing out on potential volunteers over Christmas, new research suggests. Over a quarter of people saying they are planning some Yuletide volunteering this year, with many motivated by the festive spirit and ‘extra time provided by the holidays’.

25 Jun 2013

People’s awareness of charities is formed at a young age, new research suggests. Young people also display charity engagement levels similar to those of adults according to the new poll, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, which reveals promising figures about the donors of tomorrow.

18 Nov 2013

Charity chief executives have recently found themselves under the spotlight in one area more than any other; their salaries. Plenty has been said about the public objecting to anyone at a charity earning over £100k a year, but we have been looking at how we got to this stage. Our data, drawn from the country’s top 50 most recognisable charities, looks back at the last five years of CEO pay and what drives it.

25 Oct 2013

Before the event, Simon Fowler, Managing Director of Advanced Business Solutions, commented: “The NFP sector is going through tremendous change and the key goal for organisations is to be able to connect more effectively with their customers, whether donors and supporters in the charity sector or members for professional membership organisations.

20 Mar 2013

Thank you to everyone who attended our Insights event. If you couldn't make it, thank you for your interest in the event and we hope to see you next time.

Our presentations are now available for free download on this page for anyone who would like them.

18 Jun 2013

Thank you to everyone who attended our Insights event. If you couldn't make it, thank you for your interest in the event and we hope to see you next time.

Our presentations are now available for free download on this page for anyone who would like them.

16 Jul 2013

Trust in charities has increased for the third successive year, new research suggests. Two thirds of people trust them, making them the fourth most trusted institution in Britain behind the Armed Forces, Scouts and Guides and the NHS.

19 Jun 2013

Charities and grant-making trusts need a code of best practice and a discussion forum to move their relationship forward, a new report claims. ‘Inside the mind of a grant-maker’, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, calls for the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) and the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) to take significant action to make it easier for charities and grant-makers to work together.

1 Oct 2013

A third of young people now volunteer for good causes, new research shows. The figure is nearly double that of a decade ago and the young are now the most likely age group to give up their time. The poll, published by research consultancy nfpSynergy, also reveals that volunteering is up 5% since January, meaning 1 in 4 people are now volunteers.

29 Jul 2013

Three in four people think that London-based offices for charities are a waste of money, new research shows. The public also take a dim view of paying for rebranding, but more than half say they would feel confident that a charity spends donations well if they vetoed first class travel for staff.

18 Feb 2013

The general public are still not completely sure who is paid in charities, new research shows. The poll of 1000 people, carried out by consultancy nfpSynergy, also found that people are divided on who should be drawing a salary from non-profits.

5 Feb 2013

Almost half of people in England and Wales would be less likely to donate to charities in an independent Scotland, new research suggests. The poll, carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy, suggests there would be some dramatic changes to the giving landscape if Scotland votes to leave the UK.

1 May 2013

Charities are not a popular resource for people looking for support, advice and information, new research shows. The poll, carried out by consultancy nfpSynergy, shows that the general public see charities as a last resort when seeking help with certain issues.

3 Apr 2013

Britain’s ‘golden summer’ could have been a false dawn in terms of volunteering, new research shows. Despite a summer of Olympic glory and the praise heaped upon Games helpers, few people have been inspired to give their time to good causes and there has been no overall increase in volunteering.

14 Dec 2012

Charities are likely to lose donations from the public if they are thought to spend too little on their cause, new research suggests. The poll, carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy, found that 61% of people gave this as their main reason not to give and it has been the top choice for three years running.

2 Nov 2012

Public trust in charities is on the increase, new research shows. Levels of trust in the Royal family have also increased dramatically in the Jubilee year.

17 Apr 2010

A survey and the results on all things fundraising, answered by people in the sector.

Versions from 2007 and 2010 are available.

1 Jan 2007

A new analysis from the Family Expenditure Survey.

1 Jan 2002

Joe Saxton looks at the relationships between users, stakeholders and accountability and argues that user involvement in the trustee body is far from the only route to increased accountability

1 Jan 2008

The Clinks Taskforce was set up to identify ways in which offenders, former offenders and their families can make a positive contribution to the policies, services and practices that affect them, both in prison and the community.

1 Jan 2002

Joe Saxton looks at the relationships between users, stakeholders and accountability and argues that user involvement in the trustee body is far from the only route to increased accountability.

8 Jan 2001

Sky commissioned the Future Foundation to conduct a programme of research that will provide a better understanding of teenagers’ lives. This project coincides with the re-launch of ‘Reach for the Sky’ (RFTS), Sky’s corporate social responsibility programme.

11 Jan 2008

This is an external report from Clinks, a registered charity.

The report pulls together information and research from a wide variety of sources. It shows that despite great strides to reduce racial inequalities, individuals from BME groups are over-represented at every stage of the CJS and face multiple layers of discrimination.

26 Sep 2012

Trust is of paramount importance to charities. The public’s trust is one of the major factors that underpin the donations of time and money by millions of people every year. But what is the best way to build that trust?

24 Jul 2012

Just like when King Arthur asked a few of his mates to sit round in a circle for a chinwag, a number of myths have grown up around social media. Vicky Browning, director of CharityComms, looks at whether some of these assumptions are stifling charities' abilities to use it as an effective communications channel.

2 Aug 2012

How lottery deregulation could raise more money for charities. Society lotteries are the most regulated part of fundraising: the prize money, the amount of money, the profitability and much more of charity lotteries are regulated.

9 Jul 2012

The proportion of donors claiming to be satisfied overall with their charitable giving experience is up by 12 percentage points (up 8 percentage points re ‘moderately satisfied’, up 4 percentage points re ‘very satisfied’), from 80% in June 2006 to 92% in Nov 2011 (slides 2-3)

31 Oct 2019

Review key findings from Malcom John's Action for Trustee Racial Diversity report with some interesting statistics

11 Nov 2021

In April 2020, we released our ‘Going Viral’ report, exploring the initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak by charities. The report detailed the many challenges as well as innovations that were emerging from the sector over those early weeks.

5 Aug 2021

This report compares findings collected during the pandemic with longer term trends in the charity sector. We're sharing data and trends from surveys with the general public, parliamentarians, journalists covering charity sector news, and primary healthcare professionals; all this alongside our Covid-19 research.

18 Apr 2019

Our Facts & Figures reports are free, bite-sized offerings chock full of interesting statistics for the charity sector. In our latest report, we're drilling down in to charities and their relationship with the UK Government. Download the full report below.

22 Jul 2021

This report comprises the findings from research commissioned by John Ellerman Foundation in Spring 2021. We hope that sharing the views of many important voices within the grant making sector through this research will spark further discussion about the challenges faced by the sector, how each individual funder can confront them, and ultimately how the sector can better serve the organisations and communities it funds.

26 May 2021

We've published a mini-report sharing our data on the way that the pandemic has affected charity donation patterns.

15 May 2017

Most of the work we publish contains some data from either quantitative or qualitative research. Evidence for our assertions is typically a pre-requisite before we create ideas or recommendations about what we think is happening.

3 Jan 2019

We're pleased to release our latest findings on the public and MPs attitudes towards charity lottery regulation from Autumn 2018.

27 Sep 2017

At nfpSynergy, we've been tracking the proportion of the UK public that volunteer for over ten years. This report gives an overview of volunteering over time from as far back as 2003 up until August 2017.

1 Sep 2016

There are over 160,000 charities in the UK, benefiting a wide range of causes from hospices to international development. We explore facts and figures to try and determine which of these causes appeal most to the general public, but find that the outcome depends on the criteria used.

29 Mar 2017 We're pleased to present a new Facts and Figures report which gives a quick overview of volunteering and charitable activities by young people in the UK. Discover how many 16-24s are volunteering, the likelihood of donations being made by this demographic, and more.

3 Nov 2016

At nfpSynergy we have been tracking the proportion of the UK public that volunteer for over ten years. This free report reveals some of our most interesting findings.

8 May 2017

We've been tracking trust in charities and other public institutions for over 15 years. Our latest free research gives an update on the current levels of trust.

25 Apr 2017

This free report gives an overview of the charity landscape in Northern Ireland recently revealed by the introduction of compulsory registration in 2013.

5 Oct 2017

We're pleased to publish our new analysis of charities advertising expenditure patterns. The single most interesting finding is how charities are spending so little on the internet – just 5%- compared to the market as a whole where 46% of all expenditure is now on the internet.

5 Jul 2017

For some time the sector has been keen to understand levels of trust and confidence in charities. At nfpSynergy we have been measuring levels of trust in charities for over a decade and we now research trust in charities twice a year.

10 Oct 2017

In 2012, the Institute of Fundraising commissioned nfpSynergy to compile a synthesis of research into major donor giving. Much has changed in the UK since our first report - not least the unfolding ramifications of the vote to leave the European Union in 2016, and the looming implementation of GDPR. So what does the picture look like five years on?

13 Sep 2017

We're pleased to release selected findings from our latest research with MPs carried out after the election, revealing their priorities for the charity sector chosen from a prompted list.

3 May 2017

What do the public think about the way charities report their impact and spending?

We recently conducted three focus groups with charity-friendly members of the public to gauge their thoughts on a range of issues regarding charity reporting.

22 Mar 2017

Last year we asked the public what concerns them most about charities, looking in particular at what puts them off supporting a charity, as well as what would encourage them to give. The research, carried out as part of our Charity Awareness Monitor (CAM), revealed some interesting insight.

8 Feb 2017

The future for individual giving in the UK looks uncertain. With some data management rules changing, charities may not be able to communicate with as many of their supporters as they do now, and this could seriously affect the Gift Aid scheme.

2 Oct 2016

Our latest research with the public has revealed that public irritation with fundraisers has declined.

We asked questions in January 2015 and July 2016 about ‘what are the main factors that would put you off giving to a particular charity?’.

4 Nov 2016

Our latest research looks at what encourages people to give to charity – the flip-side of our last research two weeks ago which looked at what put people off giving.

1 Dec 2016

The time has come again to reflect on the last 12 months and thank our clients and partners for inspiring us to keep researching topical issues in the sector. As part of our Social Investment programme, we regularly produce free reports and feed our findings back to the sector so any charity regardless of size or sector can find something useful.

1 Jul 2016

We have invited charity and non-profit professionals to take part in our short survey and share their wisdom on what a good level of Gift Aid looks like for them. Now we are feeding back the insights to the sector.

20 Dec 2016

Our latest research carried out with a nationally representative sample of the public in October shows how people are more aware of charities at Christmas, but no charities are gaining awareness through advertising at Christmas.

2 Dec 2016

We are happy to release the slides for the latest of our research into trust in charities. This is the third wave of research this year, and for the first time we have measured trust in the Fundraising Regulator rather than the Fundraising Standards Board.

12 Apr 2010

Leading not-for-profit sector research consultancy nfpSynergy’s Charity Awareness Monitor regularly surveys a representative sample of 1000 16+ year olds throughout mainland Britain every year, asking them a range of charity-related questions - including gauging what impact the size of a charity has on public perceptions and on claimed propensity to donate.

1 Apr 2011

The significance of brand and how to research it, drawing on the experiences of two national charities and nfpSynergy's experience in tracking charity brands over time.

24 Apr 2019

Our new report with the People's Postcode Lottery highlights how fundraising limits affect charity lotteries- and ultimately hurt smaller charities. It explores the fundraising environment for small charities, examines charity lottery regulation and its impacts, as well as analysing attitudes toward charity lottery limits among MPs and the general public.

2 Jul 2012

In early 2012 the John Ellerman Foundation embarked on a strategic review to find out what a model grant-maker looks like in the eyes of applicants and grantees, and compare practices in the grant-making sector.

28 Feb 2011

This report grew out of one released in October 2010 - It’s competition, but not as we know it (2nd edition) – which explored what it means for charities to compete, the changing face of that competition and the different strategies charities can follow in order to thrive.

20 Oct 2008

Remember doing exams at school where you just wanted to look other people's answers without the hard work of revising? Well "Mission Impossible" lets you do just that - for other charities' vision statements. It takes away all the hard work of trawling through their organisations' websites.

30 Oct 2010

This report is an introductory examination of the issues of competition and strategy in the voluntary sector. Our aim is to stimulate organisations to think about how they can improve their performance overall and in comparison to their peers.

48% (slide 3, attached) of the British public say people working in the voluntary sector do not get enough official honours Unpaid volunteers deemed most deserving (slide 4) of such honours - ahead of charity chief execs, rich donors and other notables

25 Oct 2006

Not for profit think-tank nfpSynergy has teamed up with The ImpACT Coalition to produce a free, short, practical report and guide that will empower charities to formulate and communicate simple messages, including pithy pub facts, needed to dispel a range of debilitating misperceptions their stakeholders may have, both about themselves and the wider third sector.

17 Mar 2009

This briefing looks at how government measures the levels of volunteering in the UK (and touches on measurements of civic participation) and suggests there are a number of ways in which the current research methodology is over-estimating the level of volunteers.

9 Jan 2008

This briefing looks at some results from nfpSynergy's Charity Awareness Monitor to analyse volunteering trends over the last 7 years. While volunteering levels have remained fairly constant, the demographics of volunteers have changed.

20 Oct 2008

A representative sample of the UK population was asked to identify which of a variety of groups involved with charities was paid or unpaid. The results showed that while the public was right about whether directors and chief executives were paid (around 90% thought they were definitely or probably paid) far less accuracy was seen for trustees and fundraisers (only 8% thought trustees were definitely unpaid and only 6% thought fundraisers were definitely paid).

30 Jun 2010

nfpSynergy has created this report to contribute to the knowledge of charities, policy makers and community organisations work¬ing to support young people involved with and affected by street violence, explore the facts about young people’s involvement in street violence and identify the groups most at risk and examine the solutions proposed by charities and not-for-profit organisations.

1 Sep 2002

The future is an uncertain place when you are working with a phenomenon that is as complex and changeable as homelessness. This briefing aims to help homeless agencies to understand the significance of the key social, political and economic forces that affect their work so that they may be better prepared for what is to come.

28 Jan 2005

nfpSynergy has a wealth of back-data regarding MPs' opinions of charities and their campaigns, comments from those who work in this area and experience of the sector. This has enabled us to compile a report containing ten tips, which extract the most salient issues to emerge from our research, to help you in your future charity campaigns and lobbying.

14 Sep 2004

This toolkit goes with our 'Innovation Rules!' report, and contains practical guidelines and exercises through which an organisation can increase the quantity and quality of its innovative solutions.

24 Oct 2008

Too few people have specifically addressed the voluntary sector's potential for innovation and the voluntary sector is often left feeling that the only time they can afford the luxury of innovation is when a funder specifically asks for it. It is our hope that this report will provide charities with a greater understanding about what innovation could do for them on a day-to-day basis.

2 Apr 2008

This report looks at strategic decision making when database marketing to supporters. Download it for a decision making tree, useful tips, and examples of what to do.

1 Oct 2011

Elizabeth Finn Care (EFC) commissioned nfpSynergy to complete a broad and ambitious two-part research project into the state of the benevolent sector, looking at current issues and challenges in the sector, and the potential for sharing resources and strategic partnerships.

20 Oct 2008

Results from our 2005 annual survey of how charities are using the internet. The most recent edition is 2008.

20 Oct 2008

Results from our 2006 annual survey of how charities are using the internet. The most recent edition is 2008.

12 Feb 2001

nfpSynergy researched and wrote a report with Horwath Consulting called 'Virtual Promise - Are charities keeping up with the Internet revolution?' It was published as a special supplement for Third Sector magazine and was sent out in February 2001.

27 Oct 2008

This report is a culmination of four years of research into UK charities' use of the internet since the initial Virtual Promise report in 2000. The report is separated into three main sections. The first features the results from a 2003 survey of charities.

19 May 2009

The results for charities with an income of under £1m, taken from our 2008 Virtual Promise survey.

19 May 2009

Results for charities with an income between £1m and £10m annually, taken from our 2008 Virtual Promise survey of how charities are using the internet.

19 May 2009

Results from our 2008 Virtual Promise survey of how charities are using the internet, for charities with an annual income of more than £10m.

14 May 2009

Since 2001, we've been surveying charities to find out how and why they use the internet. These results are from the latest survey, conducted in the second half of 2008.

18 Jun 2008

Results from our 2007 annual survey of how charities are using the internet. The most recent edition is 2008.

20 Oct 2008

Much of the social dialogue about young people is focused on the behaviour of a minority of troubled young people. While this is understandable in some respects, there is a danger that these individuals are taken to be representative of all young people in Britain.

17 Jan 2008

In late 2006, the Samaritans commissioned nfpSynergy to design and conduct a research study into the state of stress today in the UK. One of the key findings was the extent to which people’s work contributed to their stress levels and impacted on their lives.

23 Nov 2007

This report was written in collaboration with the Fundraising Standards Board, and it looks at the public's perceptions of charity direct mail, and how charities can work with these.

1 Nov 2002

Is the public falling out of love with charities? Those operating within the voluntary sector may feel concerned that today's public are growing increasingly sceptical about charitable activity. As a result, there is much discussion about the need for tighter regulation of charities in order to inspire greater public trust and confidence and therefore future financial success.

14 Sep 2011

Working with MissionFish, we have carried out a survey of what charities are doing with social media for the first time. We have trend data on how the wider world is using social media, the rise of the mobile internet and the penetration of broadband into society as a whole.

16 Jun 2008

Charities have been waiting 10 years for the internet to revolutionise their fundraising. It's finally happening, in unexpected ways. Our new report looks at the most effective (and ineffective ways) to fundraise using the internet, using case studies from successful charities and data from our Virtual Promise reports.

26 Apr 2012

You know what the key challenges and priorities are within your own organisation – but how are contemporary economic and political challenges impacting your colleagues in the third sector? Exploring the key findings from our regular survey into what the sector is thinking and prioritising right now, drawing on data gathered in Autumn 2011.

16 Jan 2012

While online donations remain some way behind online retail, the share of charitable donations arriving through online channels has risen by 85% in just 3 years. There are also clear signs that charities are taking a more sophisticated and holistic approach to their online communication.

20 Oct 2004

A research report on the use of share giving by charities, a policy introduced in April 2000 which allows individuals to give shares and offset the value of the shares sold against their income tax liability and reduce their capital gains tax liability.

20 Oct 2007

This report is the conclusion of several years of work by nfpSynergy researching and understanding donors in a whole variety of guises. We hope that the report will enable charities of all sizes to think about the future and the fundraising strategies they will need to maximise income so as to meet the challenges ahead.

20 Jul 2011 The follow-up to our 2009 report. As mobile phones have become more powerful and SMS donations have increased, we examine the potential and pitfalls charities face whilst making the most of this communications and fundraising avenue

20 Oct 2008

This study represents a snapshot of how well charities' Regional-HQ relationships are functioning, according to charity employees. The aim of this study was to develop some hard data on this important issue - the first public study of its kind in the UK that we are aware of. The results highlight some worrying schisms and considerable room for improvement for many charities.

1 Jan 2011

A presentation on how to make your organisation more innovative.

1 Jan 2011

This report shows the latest trends in volunteering from 2001 -2010 based on government data over the years.

1 Mar 2004

A representative sample of the UK population was asked to think about charities and the work that they do and pick up to five issues from a prompted list that they found 'off-putting, worrying or irritating'. The biggest single response was 'concerns about the amount that goes to the charity' - 68% and only 5% of respondents said nothing irritated or concerned them.

21 Dec 2011

Leading not-for-profit sector research consultancy nfpSynergy’s Charity Awareness Monitor regularly surveys a representative sample of 1000 16+ year olds throughout mainland Britain, asking them a range of charity-related questions - including how they perceive the professionalism of charities they support, and what key factors that think constitute potential barriers to giving.

24 Feb 2012

Only 1 in 10 (11%, slide 2) of the British public think the Coalition Government has had a positive impact on charities to date, with four times that number (44%) actually disagreeing that there has been any such positive impact - according to new research out today.

20 Jan 2012

These free reports are from the organisation Clinks, and focus on issues of criminal justice. Unlocking Potential focuses on people who have been through the Criminal Justice System, and how they should be involved in decent making and policies. Less Equal Than Others explores the inequalities faced by Black and Ethnic Minorities in the Criminal Justice System.

20 Jan 2012

This free reports are from the organisation Clinks, and focus on issues of criminal justice. Less Equal Than Others explores the inequalities faced by Black and Ethnic Minorities in the Criminal Justice System.

7 Sep 2009

5 out of 6 (83%) of all 11-25 year olds use at least one social networking site, with Facebook easily the most popular - according to data out today. Significantly, those claiming regular involvement with charities, and those of university age, are especially likely to use such online media.

9 Feb 2009

Leading not for profit sector think tank and research consultancy nfpSynergy’s Charity Awareness Monitor surveys a representative sample of 1000 16+ year olds throughout mainland Britain every year, asking them a range of charity-related questions, including gauging their involvement in activities that help build so-called “social capital”.

26 Nov 2010

Half the ‘top ten’ of a wide range of issues of greatest public concern that are tackled by charities are child-related - according to new data out today.

15 Dec 2010

There has been a dramatic increase in public support for charities investing in their own fundraising, according to new data out today.

1 Feb 2010

As the economic lull has worn on, the Scottish public has increasingly felt that charitable donations made north of the border should also be spent there, according to new data out today.

28 Sep 2010

Coalition MPs overwhelmingly believe that “charities and social enterprises are going to be more important to the new government than to the last one”, according to new data out today. However, Lib Dem MPs are noticeably less emphatic about this than their Conservative “partners”; and Labour MPs remain staunchly sceptical.

12 Nov 2010

Most MPs believe that businesses should be able to support political parties but that the ban on charities so-doing should remain in place, according to new data out today.

28 Jul 2011

The numbers of young people claiming to have volunteered within the last three months dipped by a quarter – from (slide 3) 19% in Nov 2010 to 14% in May 2011 – despite having previously enjoyed a steady rise since May 2008, according to new data out today.

21 Jul 2011

‘Charities’ rank lowest out of a range of prompted options, demonstrating the lack of public appetite for overturning the current legal ban on such donations.

2 Mar 2008

Public trust in charities slumped 9 percentage points (from 51% to 42%) between Sept 2006 and July 2007, according to latest figures released today (see attached summary slides). People from lower social grades (DEs: 30%), 55-64 year olds (35%) and those living in Yorkshire and the North East (26%) show least trust.

1 May 2008

Compared with large and medium-sized voluntary organisations, smaller charities struggle to grow turnovers in real terms (excl. inflation), even in boom times, and are more likely to actually see their annual incomes shrink during downturns - according to a new analysis of UK charities’ finances over the last three decades (see attached summary slides).

1 May 2008

Youth volunteering levels fluctuated but remained broadly flat for the 18 month period Mar 2006 – Nov 2007, with 13%-19% 11-25 year olds claiming to have volunteered for a charity “in the last three months”, according to latest figures released today (see attached summary slides).

1 Jun 2008

Volunteering levels have been fluctuating (18-20%) but remained broadly flat since 2003, with a notable slump amongst 54-64 year olds (down by a third, from 23% in 2001 to 16% in 2007), as the Government’s strategy thus far fails to deliver rising volunteer numbers - according to a new briefing out today.

11 Jun 2008

58% of Councillors and 50% of Local Authority staff think “charities are able to deliver public services as cost-effectively as local authorities”, respective figures rising to 63% and 59% when comparing charitable ability in this area with that of companies - according to figures out today (see attached summary slides).

18 Jul 2008

58% of Councillors and 50% of Local Authority staff think “charities are able to deliver public services as cost-effectively as local authorities”, respective figures rising to 63% and 59% when comparing charitable ability in this area with that of companies - according to the latest data (see attached summary slides). However, Local Authority staff estimate just 14% of services are provided by the voluntary sector, with companies bagging a quarter (26%) of all delivery contracts.

22 Oct 2008

The public are dramatically overestimating charities’ admin and fundraising costs but are more tolerant of the latter - according to new research out today (see the figures by downloading file)

12 Nov 2008

The public is more put off by how a charity spends its income than how it generates it - according to new research out today.

7 Feb 2009

Over half (55%) of MPs say “building a relationship with 10 key MPs” is the most effective way to spend a limited lobbying budget, with just 3% and 2%, respectively, advising using constrained resources to hire a public affairs agency or run a party conference fringe event - according to figures out today.

7 Apr 2009

The propensity of hardcore non-donors to say they have given, or will give, “less” to charities during a downturn – when they don’t give anything anyway – may be painting an overly-gloomy picture of voluntary revenues in the third sector, according to new figures out today (see attached summary slides).

1 May 2009

Amidst a recent plethora of negative fundraising stories in the media, having “high fundraising standards” (46%), having made “personal contact” (39%) and possessing a “long-established brand” (38%) are the top three prompted “drivers” the public say makes them most likely to trust a charity, according to data out today (see attached slide 2)

6 Jun 2009

As the party conference season gets underway, only 13% of MPs and 9% of Peers rate attending such gatherings as one of the best ways for charities to influence them, trailing almost every other lobby tactic - according to a poll out today.

8 Jun 2009

The public are keener than ever for charities to be 'supportive', 'sympathetic' and 'responsive', now that the UK has entered recession, according to new data out today: demands that pose an interesting challenge to an already struggling third sector.

20 Jul 2009

The number of Scottish people claiming they “donated to charity in the last 6 months” has dipped from 79% in April 08 - before the full felt force of the economic downturn - to just 71% in April 09, according to new data out today. Scottish males and the middle-aged (35-64 year olds) seem to have fronted the slump.

26 Aug 2009

Charities and campaigners are tackling the activities society most deems unethical, whilst issues still vexing many religions have less moral relevancy - according to new data

11 Nov 2009

Public trust in charities jumped a sizable 23 percentage points (from 42% to 65%) between a July 2007 low-point and Nov 2008, the biggest “bounce-back” of any type of major British public body or institution - according to latest figures released today (see attached summary slides).

19 Jan 2011

Young Brits spontaneously name Cheryl Cole, David Beckham, Simon Cowell, then Stephen Fry as the top four celebrities most likely to influence them to support any charity they endorsed - according to data out today. However, more generally, the majority (51%) still say having a celebrity endorse a charity would not make them more likely to support it.

12 Apr 2011

Prince William is perceived by the public as being one of the hardest-working royals when it comes to supporting charities - in sharp contrast to public perception of his imminent wife, Kate Middleton - according to a major new poll out today.

1 May 2011

The Royal British Legion, RSA and Comic Relief are the top three UK-based charities with the largest “social media presence” - in terms of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube engagement - according to a major briefing out today.

5 May 2011

On average, fundraisers rank themselves as being “8-out-of-10” (scale of 1 to 10) concerned about the impact, on charitable revenues, of the proposed abolition of cheques in 2018 - according to research presented to a government inquiry into the issue.

1 Jul 2011

Recent increased mobile “text-giving” to charities is largely driven by high-profile campaigns like Red Nose Day, and fuelled by younger donors - claims a new report out today.

1 Sep 2011

With less than a year to go, ‘government debt’ or ‘increased taxes’ are still seen by the British public as the most likely (39%) legacy of the London 2012 Games, according to data out today.

24 Nov 2011

Public trust in charities has rollercoastered (slide 2) from a 5-year high of 70% back in Jan 2010 – pre the May 2010 General Election – to a low of 53% in Jan 2011, before rallying to 59% in most recent polling (July 2011), according to a briefing out today.

16 Dec 2011

The “Season of Goodwill” affords a mixed Santa’s sack for British charities, according to research out today. Whilst (slide 3) 1 in 5 (20%) Brits say they tend to give more to charities at Christmas, a similar number (17%) also claim they find it harder to give to good causes.

20 Jan 2012

A third (34%) and a fifth (20%) of the public say (slide 2) they are fairly or very worried about needing future financial assistance, from the state and from charities respectively, according to new data. Younger people and women are generally more worried about this than older people and men.

10 May 2012

Public see the Charity Commission’s prime functions (slide 4) as keeping a charity register; and investigating fraudulent/bogus charities

The public appear less aware of the Charity Commission, and what it does, now than 7 years ago (slide 5)

1 Jul 2010

Support for specific charitable causes varies with political outlook, according to out today – raising the stakes for the third sector as the Lib Dem-Conservative coalition starts work on its Big Society agenda.

26 Apr 2012

Audience segmentation by attitude and lifestyle is just one of the ways that charities can make sure they get the right message across to the right audience. But what is the theory of segmentaiton? This presentation explores how charities can make sure they exract every ounce of value from their investment in research and marketing.

26 Apr 2012

The Charity Awareness Monitor (CAM) surveys the general public twelve times a year on all aspects of charitable engagement - from awareness of brands and donation habits through to views on campaigning, levels of trust and barriers to giving. Drawing on recent data, this session examines the key trends you need to know about this year.

16 Jan 2012

Legacy giving is an area of crucial importance but presents a myriad of challenges for charities. Bringing together new data from the Charity Awareness Monitor and our experience of researching legacies in a focus group setting, we look at public perceptions of this difficult topic and how charities can grow this important income stream with sensitivity.

16 Jan 2012

The public have a level of choice in almost every aspect of their lives that was unthinkable 20 years ago. But charities have largely ignored the rise in consumer choice in the way they treat their stakeholders. So how should charities respond to consumer choice - and even exploit it?

16 Sep 2009 A briefing released in Sept 2009, using data from the Charity Parliamentary Monitor to examine whether party conferences are a good use of resources for charities and non-profits.

Young People in Governance - November 2010

30 Nov 2010

Young people have much to contribute to the governance of charities and not-for-profits, whether they work specifically with children and young people. Young people can bring a fresh perspective and new energy to decision-making, as well as making boards more diverse and representative of the general public and – for some charities – their service users.

20 Jan 2012

We're pleased to be able to bring this version of a dissertation by Sam MacKenzie, which explores the role of trust in collaboration management within the charity sector. Click on the link above to download the full version - and click here to access the summary.

28 May 2009

A presentation from our 2009 Scottish seminar looking at which charities have the highest awareness in Scotland, how the Scottish charity sector compares to the UK as a whole, what charities can do to impress MSPs, and more results from our Scottish research.

1 Jan 2011

Download this presentation to find out the 10 key things your charity should be doing in order to survive the recession.

28 May 2009

This presentation, from our 2009 Scottish seminar, examines the 'Obama effect', and the way his election campaign combined new online methods with tried and tested campaigning techniques. It includes examples of his campaigning and fundraising emails, and looks at what charities can learn to use in their own work.

1 Aug 2011

Ten charts with important messages for those working in the sector covering lifestage, fundraising, public perceptions, CEO salaries and much more.

1 Jul 2010

This presentation includes three talks on the day - highlights of our work in Scotland, how much do people trust charities and how to create a powerful charity brand.

1 Jan 2011

How do the public see charities? What misperceptions do they have, and how can charities combat this?

18 Jun 2009

This presentation looks at the state of volunteering in the UK, including detailed data from our research, and some suggestions for where volunteering could go next.

1 Aug 2011

Three different perspectives on how good media relations and PR work can help your organisation.

1 Aug 2011

Highlights from our latest free report into charities and mobile phones.

1 Apr 2011

The role of trust in fostering and sustaining public engagement - for both individual charities and the sector in general - drawing on recent nfpSynergy data and analysis.

1 Apr 2011

A look at generational differences in charity engagement and the socio-economic changes influencing patterns of engagement over people's lifetime.

1 Jan 2011

the relationship between charities and companies - what are the problems, and how can charities improve their corporate partnerships?

1 Jan 2011

Facts and figures on the current recession, who it's affecting, and whether this should concern charities.

23 Nov 2007

Summary of our report written in collaboration with the Fundraising Standards Board, looking at the public's perceptions of charity direct mail, and how charities can work with these.

2 Apr 2008

Whilst in reality charity marketing strategies are carefully crafted and multidimensional, in the public eye they all too often appear simple and unsubtle. Recent debates about incentives in mailing and media dislike of face-to-face fundraising on the street has only served to heighten the negative image of charity marketing.

20 May 2008

Charities have been waiting 10 years for the internet to revolutionise their fundraising. It's finally happening, in unexpected ways. Our new report looks at the most effective (and ineffective ways) to fundraise using the internet, using case studies from successful charities and data from our Virtual Promise reports.

1 Feb 2004

A research report on charities' attitudes to Gift Aid and its marketing which shows charities are not making enough of Gift Aid. Questionnaires were sent to over 600 charities ranked by income. 136 completed questionnaires were received.

1 Dec 2002

A research report on charities' attitudes to payroll giving and its marketing. Questionnaires were sent to over 600 charities ranked by income. 136 completed questionnaires were received.

17 Jul 2008

Case studies from our evaluation of the Code of Good Governance. You can also download the full report - Review and Development of the Code of Good Governance.

17 Jul 2008

The Code of Good Governance had been in existence for a number of years helping to improve the governance practices of organisations in the Voluntary and Community Sector. The Governance Hub asked us to review the impact of the Code, and to look at changes that might be needed to improve take up and usage.

1 May 2008

This updated report is a must-read for everyone who is interested in charity branding. It looks at how to create a strong, belief-based brand for voluntary sector organisations. The report examines the hierarchy of motivations that affect charity donors, and sets out the three steps to creating and delivering strong brand values for your organisation.

20 Oct 2008

This report is the conclusion of several years of work by nfpSynergy researching and understanding donors in a whole variety of guises. We hope that the report will enable charities of all sizes to think about the future and the fundraising strategies they will need to maximise income so as to meet the challenges ahead.

20 Oct 2008

Who gives to charity? An analysis of the most recent Family Expenditure Survey, which asks over 6,000 UK households about how much they give to charity, and how often. This report was updated with new charts and analysis on the 28th June 2007.

20 Oct 2008

Running for the Money started out as research into the possible demand for a second marathon in London. However, as results came in, it became clear that the interest in a second London marathon was in fact part of a wider yearning for more accessible, more strategically-planned charity runs throughout the UK. We prospected for a nugget of fundraising potential and discovered a whole mine.

20 Oct 2008

It is three years now since we published 'Polishing the Diamond' in the autumn of 2002, and it remains one of our most popular reports.For this reason we decided to pull together a series of branding case studies from across the sector.

20 Oct 2008

A 20 page summary of the full report.

Remember doing exams at school where you just wanted to look other people's answers without the hard work of revising? Well "Mission Impossible" lets you do just that - for other charities' vision statements. It takes away all the hard work of trawling through their organisations' websites.

1 Oct 2008

"The power of dreams, the burden of leadership" is a report disseminating the "Britain's Most Admired Charity" survey data. It concentrates on a number of important issues for any charity that wants to increase its effectiveness including: the key attributes of successful charities; skill and expertise shortages; government initiatives that have impacted (or not impacted) the sector; and the key challenges for effective charities and charity leaders.

24 Oct 2008

In one of our newsletters, we asked readers to complete a survey giving us their views on restricted and unrestricted income. We've taken the results from the survey, turned them into charts and created a pdf of the results.

18 Jun 2009

A report on using SMS and mobile phones for fundraising and campaigning. Includes our ten top tips, and case studies from other organisations.

30 Apr 2010

The third sector is poised for huge changes. There is an upcoming general election, government budgets are about to shrink, and the economy remains fragile. So research such as this, which tries to understand the dynamics and concerns of the third sector, is even more important.