Closing the Data Gap: A Call to Action for Fundraisers

For too long, fundraisers and the wider sector have faced a critical shortage of reliable data to effectively guide planning, projections, and business cases for essential fundraising programmes. At a sector-wide level, fundamental insights into scale, size, and market share remain elusive—an issue exacerbated by the closure of Benefacts. 

The absence of standardised KPIs and reporting frameworks further compounds these challenges, making it increasingly difficult to navigate strategic and operational decision-making.  

Moreover, most charities operate within tight financial and resource constraints, leaving limited capacity to pursue data-driven initiatives or build meaningful insights.

We are committed to addressing this gap at Charities Institute Ireland (Cii). Building on existing public reports and syndicated research, we are taking a bold step forward with a new research initiative designed to meet the sector's pressing data needs.

Introducing Our Research Project

We are launching a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative study to examine our members' data experiences and needs. This project will explore a range of themes, including the challenges faced by fundraisers, organisational capacity, leadership dynamics, and performance benchmarks.

Led by Jane Trenaman of The HX Consultancy and guided by an expert working group, our goal is to create a longitudinal study that benchmarks current fundraising performance and tracks trends and sentiment over time.

We Need Your Involvement

While there is a clear appetite for better data, the success of this initiative hinges on the active engagement and support of fundraising leaders like you. Without your partnership, we risk falling short of our ambitious goals.

Here's how you can help

• Complete the Survey: Look for our survey link to arrive in your inbox later this month. Your participation will directly shape the insights we gather.
• Qualitative Interviews: We will also contact a small group of fundraising leaders and data professionals to explore these themes in greater depth through one-on-one conversations.

Together, We Can Drive Change

Through this project, Cii aims to empower fundraising leaders and their organisations to generate income more effectively by providing the insights needed for confident, data-driven decision-making. Your involvement is essential to achieving this vision.

Let's seize this opportunity to shape a future where fundraising organisations have the knowledge they need to thrive.

Help us help you. Participate, engage, and make this research a success—together.