A briefing paper drawn together by the third sector consultancy warns that as many as one in three believe their organisations are overly bureaucratic, and one in four say they are too risk averse. Almost half of those surveyed for the report agreed that the funding structures available to voluntary organisations inhibited innovation. A further 38% admitted it was tough to secure funding for new and innovative projects, compared to well-established programmes.

Trends found that the more senior the manager, the more complacent about innovation they had become. While 63% of chief executives feel innovation is important in their organisation, just 48% of senior managers and 37% of middle managers and other staff agree.

“This research should come as a wake up call to their entire third sector,” said nfpSynergy’s driver of ideas Joe Saxton, “not least to chief executives and trustees of larger organisations whose opinion of their charity’s vision and ability to innovate often far exceeds the experience of those on the ground. It should also prompt funders and regulators to ensure that their own procedures don’t stifle crucial innovation in those they seek to aid.”