Almost half of fundraisers have reduced or stopped the amount of money raising activities they do for good causes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey is suggesting.

The survey, which was carried out in the summer, found that 44% of fundraisers have curtailed their activity to raise money for charities.

Financial worries, pay cuts and loss of jobs have been raised as concerns in the survey, which was carried out by wealth management firm James Hambro and Partners.

Of those curtailing their fundraising activity, 20% said they have stopped and raised no money amid the Covid health crisis.

Meanwhile, 11 per cent have cut back by at least three quarters, 3% have cut their activity down by between a half and three quarters and 6% have cut their fundraising by between a quarter and a half. The survey also found that 4% have cut back fundraising activity by up to a quarter.

But the survey, of around 1,000 people, offered hope for a return to fundraising activity for some of those who have stopped or curtailed their involvement in good causes.

Among fundraisers surveyed, a quarter hoped to return to raising money for good causes by September, while more than a fifth (22%) pencilled in this month for a return to fundraising.

However, 4% feared they may never return to fundraising.

Fall in donations

In terms of donations more than a third (36%) of charity supporters say they have cut the amount they give each month by an average of £11.

Despite the donations warning the survey also reveals that almost one in ten (9%) of charity supporters have increased donations or started giving for the first time.

Also evidence is emerging that charity supporters may be shifting their fundraising focus to legacies.

Among those surveyed 6% say they have written a will for the first time and left money to a charity or amended an existing will to leave a donation.

Many said they want to leave money to charity in their will because they have used their services and accessed their support during the pandemic.

“Regular donors who have cut back say their own financial situation has forced them to reduce payments – around 41% have suffered pay cuts, lost their jobs, or were furloughed, the research found,” said James Hambro and Partners.

The firms’s portfolio manager Patrick Trueman added: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive financial impact across the economy and that has inevitably hit charity giving and fundraising.

“The major concern for charities however is how long the recovery in donations and fundraising activity will take and while government support during the crisis has been generous, many charities may struggle in the future.”

This week research by fundraising platform Enthuse found that more than four in ten people say financial worries will make it harder for them to donate this Christmas.

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