Fundraising promise - frequently asked questions
About us
Income
- How much income does your charity raise in a year?
- Why does Barnardo's receive money from the government?
- How can your charity maintain independence when you get your money from the government?
- Why do you prefer people to make regular gifts?
- How can £2 a month/ £15 really make a difference?
Expenditure
- How much of my donation goes on fundraising/administration?
- Why do you spend so much money sending mailings asking for a donation?
- How much of my donation actually goes to the cause (that the project or appeal advertises)?
What has your charity done over the last 12 months that has made a genuine difference? Back to top
In the past year, we worked with approximately 115,000 children, young people and their families in over 390 specialised projects in local communities across the UK.
Our greatest focus recently has been dealing with the issue of child poverty. At the moment, one in three children live in poverty in the world’s fourth or fifth richest nation.
We have worked closely with other children’s charities on this issue. As a member of the End Child Poverty coalition, we are campaigning to influence both the public and government, in order to ensure we reach the government’s own target of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
We also produced a report entitled It Doesn’t Happen Here to highlight the reality of child poverty in the UK today, to draw attention to the harsh realities of the lives of the 3.8 million children living below the poverty line.
How much income does your charity raise in a year? Back to top
In the past year (2006-07), we had a total income of £195.5m.
In order to spread risk and maximise income, we try to ensure that we don’t have just one funding source. Our annual report shows the split of our fundraising income streams, showing that our income comes from a range of statutory, individual and corporate sources.
The support of our statutory partners in local and central government helps us reach more of the most vulnerable children in the UK, but donations continue to pay a vital role in funding our work. This income gives us the independence to meet needs which are not recognised by statutory partners.
The pie chart below demonstrates the range of our income sources:
Why does Barnardo’s receive money from the government? Back to top
We receive funding from central and local government in return for the provision of vital services to vulnerable children and their families.
However, voluntary funds continue to be an important component of our income, giving us the flexibility to also work in areas, ways and with groups which are not readily funded by government. For example, Barnardo’s runs a service in London for Families in Temporary Accommodation (FITA) which is 99% funded by our voluntary income because we think it offers a vital service, irrespective of the official funding available for the work.
How can your charity maintain independence when you get your money from the government? Back to top
Our receipt of government funding may give rise to a concern that Barnardo’s will find it harder to be independent. However, this is not the case. Our first commitment is to the children with whom we work and to all vulnerable children in the UK, and this will continue to be the case.
In addition, we raise a significant proportion of our funds from supporters and donors, which ensures we retain our independence.
Why do you prefer people to make regular gifts? Back to top
Regular gifts mean that we have a consistent, predictable income, so we can plan and budget better and help the greatest number of children and young people possible.
In turn, this long-term security enables us to respond to situations as soon as they arise, and the income to carry on with our existing work whether issues are receiving media coverage or not.
Regular gifts also mean lower administration costs and cheaper bank charges so that even more of your money goes to our work.
Also, continuing donor support helps us balance the higher costs of securing new donors and to recoup supporter recruitment costs quicker.
How can £2 a month/ £15 really make a difference? Back to top
£2 a month may seem like a small amount, but over many months and with lots of people giving similar amounts, the combined effect can be very large and have a substantial impact. Not everyone can afford to give large amounts, but when many individuals give small amounts such as £15, they add up to a substantial contribution.
How much of my donation goes on fundraising/administration? Back to top
We are quite clear about how much we spend on fundraising and support – vital areas which ensure our continued existence and effectiveness.
Why do you spend so much money sending mailings asking for a donation? Back to top
We use mailings to reach the donors and supporters without whom we could not fund all our vital work. Mailings are a cost-effective and efficient method of reaching a large audience, and are successful in maximising the amount of money raised for children and young people.
How much of my donation actually goes to the cause (that the project or appeal advertises)? Back to top
This depends on the individual project or appeal and it should be made clear in the materials you read or the conversation you had.
We do have an obligation under the 1992 Charities Act to ensure that your donation goes to the work that it was asked for, unless stated otherwise.
In some instances, we use a specific project to illustrate our work in an area, with funds raised going to support our work in similar projects working on the same issues. Equally, we may use a case study of one child to illustrate our work with many children. Funds raised through our appeals go to wherever the need is greatest.
