Large Charities

Here, we recap and provide further data specifically relating to large charities. Whilst large charities are further ahead with digital in comparison to small charities, they are similarly affected by challenges related to the cost of living crisis. Lack of capacity and headspace, as well as squeezed organisational finances, are affecting their ability to develop skills and move forward. Large charities have a strong appetite to engage with AI, are prioritising data and want to provide more digital services.  

Our sample

• 206 (33%) of our responses are from large charities.
  
  
• 92% are a registered charity or a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
  
  
• 11% describe themselves as a social enterprise or community business.
  
  
• 9% are infrastructure or second tier organisations.
  
  
• 54% provide frontline services to individuals.

Digital progress

• Larger charities are further ahead with digital. 26% are at an early stage with digital (7% curious and 19% starting out). This compares to 50% of all charities. 
  
  
• 74% are advancing or advanced, with a strategy in place for digital. 
  
  
• The biggest achievement for 55% of charities this year is having found useful insights from data.

Barriers to digital progress

1. Lack of headspace and capacity (72%)
2. Squeezed organisational finances (63%) 
3. Finding funds to invest in infrastructure, systems and tools (54%).

Digital priorities

• 83% see digital as an organisational priority, with 33% saying it is a high priority.
  
  
• 37% say their top priority this year is to develop a digital strategy, whilst 46% say their top priority this year is to develop a data strategy.
  
  
• 47% are currently prioritising investing in infrastructure and systems.
  
  
• Large charities are more likely to prioritise data, with 37% saying this is a high priority, compared to 18% of small charities.
  
  
• Top priorities are:
  
  
  • Use data to improve services or operations (58%)
  • Using AI tools (53%)
  • Increase online fundraising (53%).

Leadership

The top skills, knowledge and behaviours CEOs need to develop are:

1. A clear vision of what we could achieve with digital (55%)
2. Keep up to date with emerging trends, tech and AI tools (38%)
3. Understand risks and opportunities for emerging tech (38%)
4. Better budgeting, resourcing and investment for digital and IT (38%)
5. A clear vision and plan to improve our data (35%).

Services

• 88% are delivering services built on digital tools, in a supportive or integral role.
  
  
• 70% are using digital tools behind the scenes to help run services.
  
  
• 10% support clients with digital inclusion, whilst 12% say this is a priority.
  
  
• 75% feel their services are inclusive to some extent (53%) or a great extent (22%).
  
  
• In the next year, 32% say their priority is to develop or scale digital services, whilst 24% plan to offer new digital services, this is greater than the 18% of all respondents.

AI 

• 78% are using AI tools in their day-to-day work or operations, compared to 53% of small charities.
  
  
• 53% say that using AI tools is a priority this year.
  
  
• 17% are using AI tools behind the scenes to deliver services.
  
  
• 83% agree or strongly agree that AI developments are relevant to them. However, only 21% feel prepared to respond to AI opportunities and challenges.

Funding

• 22% accessed funding for digital costs (e.g.  new devices or staff time), whilst 10% accessed funding for substantial digital costs (e.g. a digital role or new website).
  
  
• The top barriers to accessing funding are that typical funders do not cover digital costs (30%) and prioritising meeting demand and delivering our current work (29%).

Top funding needs

• Capacity/headspace for organisational development (59%).
  
  
• Training for staff and volunteers on digital or data (37%).
  
  
• Develop our digital strategy (37%).