Expert charity advice and opinions

Charity reserves are in focus more than ever – what have we learned?

Thee cost-of-living crisis and gloomy economic outlook are testing the operational endurance of charities, their adaptability, and financial resilience. The current inflationary environment is increasing costs, eroding donations, and increasing the number of people who rely on their services. The Bank of England is now expecting a prolonged recession – which likely means that the high levels of demand many charities are seeing will continue.

How the cost-of-living crisis is impacting social organisations

While charities and social enterprises are facing a challenging financial environment, Venturesome, the social investment arm of CAF, is committed to offering flexible, affordable, and patient finance. To support social organisations, Venturesome is extending our blended finance offer (part loan / part grant), offering a fixed interest rate for up to 10 years and flexible terms to suit the needs of the charity or social enterprise.

Why the aid budget should be restored to 0.7%

Those working in international development and their supporters will be looking at the Autumn Statement next week for an indication that the Government intends to increase foreign aid in the near future. Returning to the original goal of keeping spending at 0.7% of Gross National Income seems to become increasingly long-term goal, given the current economic climate and additional pressures on the public purse. 

Why is COP27 important for charities?

The UN Climate Change Conference has now been running for almost three decades but the climate crisis continues to accelerate. What can we hope for from COP27 and what does it mean for charities?