Over 80% of charities believe the Tsunami appeal could have a long-term positive impact on their organisation, according to a new survey by the Institute of Fundraising (Institute).

Over 290 people participated in the survey, representing £1.5 billion of fundraising income. Although 21.2% noted a decrease in income, 18.4% reported an increase. Of those that noticed changes, two thirds cited the Tsunami as the cause.

Despite initial fears of the short term effect on their bottom lines, many organisations also identified that there were benefits to be had. Fifty seven percent of respondents said it could raise the profile of the sector, 54% said there is an opportunity to tap into the feel-good factor and 27% said there was an opportunity to increase take-up of Gift Aid.

Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of the Institute, said: “From a voluntary sector perspective, whether charities have seen a negative or positive effect on their income, there is overwhelming opinion that the public’s reaction has been generous, understandable and right.

“The challenge now is for charities to capture the giving momentum and sector-wide positive attributes of increased awareness of charities, and of Gift Aid, in a big enough way to over ride any negative impact of reductions in donations on an organisation-by-organisation basis.”

More than a third of respondents felt that it was too early to tell if the Tsunami appeal was to have an effect on their income, with 54% of these anticipating if it did, it would have a negative impact. In order to track this and other changes, the Institute is to repeat the survey in June. For more information, visit www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk