Evidence library

This paper explores whether recent attacks on charities from politicians and the media have adversely affected the public?s attitude to the sector, based on the results of a poll carried out by Ipsos MORI. It is divided into three sections: general attitudes towards charities and their role; views on key issues such as lobbying, fundraising and executive pay; and ideas on how charities should respond. Key findings ?A third (32%) of the public say that their views towards charities have become more positive in the last three years, compared with almost a quarter (23%) who have become more negative. ?The top five concerns people have about charities are that they spend too much on executive pay (42%), are not transparent enough about their spending (36%) and spend too much abroad (29%), put pressure on people to donate (29%), and spend too much on running costs (26%). ?There is a gap between what the public thinks charities should be doing as opposed to what they think they are actually doing. For example, over half (56%) think that charities should be helping communities but just a third (35%) think they spend their time doing this. Conversely, 51% think that they should be raising money for good causes compared with 55% who feel that they spend their time on this. ?Half of people (47%) say they pay attention to evidence that an organisation is having an impact when making a donation, including one in ten (9%) who say that they pay ?extremely close attention? to understanding the difference an organisation makes.