The Weathervane. 2023 charities survey results
Understanding the charity sector’s headwinds and tailwinds
The purpose of our latest survey is to understand the charity sector’s most pressing challenges.
This year’s results reflect a changeable year for charities. High inflation, market volatility, rising interest rates, and escalating energy prices contributing to a cost of living crises have heralded a lethargy and lack of certainty for charities’ futures.
However, our results show that there is good news for the sector. Charities are better prepared for hardship than in previous years.
Survey respondents
We had over 100 respondents from charities across the sector.
The typical respondent across the entire survey was a trustee representing an operational/service charity from the South East or Scotland with a discretionary investment portfolio valued between £0 and £5 million. There was strong representation from senior staff (CEOs and FDs) (37%) and charities with over £10 million in investment portfolios (31%).
The typical grantmaker/endowed charity that responded operates primarily in Scotland (34%), derives more than 50% of their income from their investments (73%) and has an investment portfolio valued at £5 million or more (55%).
The typical operational/service charity that responded operates primarily in London and the South East (40%), derives less than 10% of operating expenditure from their investment portfolio, with the majority (56%) having a portfolio of less than £5 million.
Charity articles and trustee training videos
Helping trustees access relevant information to help keep you up to date.