Charity Commission NI launch research into public trust and confidence in charities

In October 2015, CCNI commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research into public trust and confidence in NI charities. This research was to provide a baseline to monitor progress against CCNI’s statutory objective to increase public trust and confidence in the charities in NI.

The research shows that of those surveyed locally:

79% reported a medium to high level of trust and confidence in charities;

90% supported a charity in some way in the six months leading up to the research;

66% stated that their trust and confidence in charities has stayed the same over the last two years;

94% felt proper regulation of charities is important to them; and

58% felt that most charities are trustworthy

Three of the top factors that are important to the public in terms of trust are:

• Donations/funds raised by charities are used properly;
• Charities have a positive impact on the causes they represent and that charities will do what they say they will; and
• Charities are well managed and are transparent about the way they spend their funds/collect donations.

Some of reasons given why people trust charities:

• Personal experience of using a charity and/or its services;
• Volunteering or working for a charity; and
• Seeing the impact of a charities work in their local area.

Reasons why some people’s trust in charities has decreased in recent years:

• Negative media stories that have emerged around chugging and aggressive fund raising techniques.
• Salaries of senior members of staff in charities.
• Some charities’ fundraising methods are often too frequent and invasive, particularly when fundraisers call at their door in the evening.

The research also reported that charities are perceived to be of critical importance in NI and that many services would not exist if charities did not provide them.   Charities were perceived to fill a gap that government services cannot fill, and these services need to be provided.

The full research report is available in the CCNI website

http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/news/public-trust-and-confidence-research-launch/

Further snapshots will be released by CCNI throughout the year and will also be available on their website.