Financial pressures are the ‘most pressing challenge’ facing small charities, a survey has found.

The wellbeing of small charities’ leaders as they navigate financial and organisational challenges is also highlighted as a major concern.

The survey has been carried out by pro bono charity management support organisation Cranfield Trust among more than 200 of its charity clients, 37 funders, as well as more than 100 of its volunteers and staff.

Among two in three funders, charities and volunteers surveyed, income generation and fundraising were highlighted as the most significant challenge for small charities. Among Cranfield’s volunteers and staff this proportion rose to more than nine in ten.

Among around one in four charities leadership capacity and wellbeing is highlighted as pressing management challenges. This rises to almost half among funders.

Successful planning is also highlighted as a major concern, by among one in four charities, and one in ten funders.

More than one in five charities highlight digital systems and infrastructure as their top worry.

Areas small charities say they want more help with include “organisational resilience and risk management”, strategy and planning, digital capability, leadership development and measuring their impact.

Charity leaders also said that free management support was vital to their work.

One respondent said: “Free, high‑quality training is so valuable when budgets are being squeezed.”

“Short, practical training” is being called for through online resources and webinars “chich offer flexibility, reach and immediate accessibility”.

“This reflects a wider need for support that is timely, relevant and easy to access, enabling leaders to build capability without stepping away from frontline responsibilities,” said Cranfield.

The survey was carried out in March this year and was supported by consultancy nfpResearch.

The Trust’s chief executive Dan Francis added: “Charity leaders are working incredibly hard in challenging circumstances, often without the specialist skills or resources they need around them and our findings have highlighted the importance of human led, relational support that provides a trusted space, insight and reassurance when it is needed most.”

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