Overview
- The Covid-19 crisis is radically reshaping the work of small charities
- Around half of small charities have had to adapt or reduce the way their services are delivered, with many unfunded charities being unable to continue delivering services
- Around half of small charities are providing new services in response to Covid-19
- 43% of small charities project they will lose more than half of their annual income as a result of the crisis
- 16% of small charities expect to be able to access emergency Covid-19 funding from the National Lottery Community Fund
- 80% of emergency grants from general funders have gone to small charities, representing 57% by total value
- Over half of small charities predict they will not meet their payroll costs within six months, and around one-third intend to furlough staff
How are small charities adapting their services?
- 30% of small charities have been able to continue to deliver services fully during the Covid-19 crisis, with a further 49% delivering services in part.
- Small charities are less likely to have been able to continue to provide services, with unfunded charities the least able to continue provision in the same way.
- Just over half (52%) of small charities are providing different services specifically in response to Covid-19.
What is the impact of Covid-19 on charity finances?
- Fundraising and income is the most urgent challenge for many charities as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. 79% of small charities already report losing funding.
- 43% project they will lose more than half of their annual income as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Only 18% say they will not be affected.
- 16% of small charities were expecting to be able to access emergency Covid-19 funding from the £370m National Lottery Community Fund.
How have grantmakers supported small charities during Covid-19?
- Grants worth £143m to frontline charities have been shared in 360Giving’s Covid-19 Tracker.
- 81% of grants went to small charities, worth 57% of the total value of Covid-19 emergency grants.
- 19% of grants went to large charities, worth 43% of the total value of Covid-19 emergency grants.
How are small charities responding as employers?
- 52% of small charities say that they can only meet their payroll costs for the next 1-3 months, with nearly 1 in 10 (9%) not being able to meet their present payroll costs.
- Around one-third (34%) of small charities intend to furlough staff, compared to 41% who did not.