Scottish independence could have a big impact on UK-wide fundraising strategies

Scottish independence could have a big impact on UK-wide fundraising strategies

Half of English and Welsh people less likely to give to charities working in an independent Scotland

“The recent report from the Carnegie Trust shows that many charities in Scotland aren’t thinking about what independence might mean. I dread to think how little UK-wide charities have done regarding the ramifications for them.” Joe Saxton
  • If Scotland became independent, almost half of people in England and Wales (48%) would be less likely to give to a charity working only in Scotland. 34% said it made no difference, with just 2% more likely to give (slide 2).
  • A quarter (25%) would be less likely to give to a charity that works in Scotland as well as the rest of the UK, but 56% said it made no difference (slide 2).
  • The situation reverses in Scotland. Of the 88 people we asked there, 32% would be more likely to give to a charity working in an independent Scotland, 45% said it made no difference (slide 3).
  • 14% of people in Scotland were less likely to give to a charity working across the UK in the event of independence, 63% said it made no difference (slide 3).
 
Almost half of people in England and Wales would be less likely to donate to charities in an independent Scotland, new research suggests. The poll, carried out by research consultancy nfpSynergy, suggests there would be some dramatic changes to the giving landscape if Scotland votes to leave the UK.
 
The study reveals that if Scotland becomes independent, 48% of English and Welsh people would be put off sending their money to charities that only work north of the border. One in four (25%) would also be less likely to give to a charity that works in Scotland and rest of the UK.
 
But Scots would be more generous towards their own charities if they do leave the union. A third (32%) said they would be more likely to donate to a charity working only in Scotland, while 14% would be less likely to give to a charity working in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
 
nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas, Joe Saxton, said: 
 
“After devolution, many charities had to change the way they operate, but those changes mainly focussed on media and parliamentary work. This research shows that independence would be a whole new ball game and it raises all manner of strategic questions in the competitive world of fundraising. 
 
If independence comes about, the idea of UK-wide charities including Scotland in their national fundraising plans will become as odd as including Belgium. Charities will have to think about how this will affect them and plan accordingly, or they could end up being left behind if Scotland votes ‘Yes’. The recent report from the Carnegie Trust shows that many charities in Scotland aren’t thinking about what independence might mean. I dread to think how little UK-wide charities have done regarding the ramifications for them.”
 

Please see the attached slides for more details.

For further comment from nfpSynergy’s Joe Saxton, please contact him directly on 07976 329 212 or joe.saxton@nfpsynergy.net
 
SOURCE:  nfpSynergy’s Charity Awareness Monitor, which regularly surveys a representative sample of 1000 16+ year olds throughout mainland Britain’. This information is from the November 2012 wave, from a sample of 1000 adults across Britain.
 
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MEDIA COMMENT:
To interview nfpSynergy’s Joe Saxton about these findings, please contact him directly on 07976 329212 or joe.saxton@nfpsynergy.net. If you cannot contact Joe, please contact Rob White (07512 709140; E: rob.white@nfpsynergy.net) for further assistance.
 
Note to editors:
nfpSynergy (www.nfpsynergy.net) is a research consultancy dedicated to the not-for-profit sector. They aim to provide the ideas, the insights and the information to help non-profits thrive. They provide a unique insight into the social and charity-related views of everyone from public and parliament to media and business, not to mention not-for-profit organisations themselves. nfpSynergy has a vast and ever-growing knowledge pool and shares this with the non-profit sector, through both paid work and regular free reports and seminars.