Blindness charity Guide Dogs has more than doubled its fundraising spend in six years, and increased its income by almost two thirds as a result.
The charity’s annual report and accounts for the year to December 2017 were filed last week with Companies House. They show that in the most recent year total income was up 2 per cent, from £107m to £108.7m, but fundraising spend was up 12 per cent, from £39.9m to £44.5m.
The charity has spent heavily on fundraising over several years, with its total expenditure growing from £21.2m in 2011 to £44.5m in 2017. Spending on fundraising has grown from 32 per cent to 42 per cent.
The charity said that it had invested in growth over a number of years, and was now in a position to scale back in 2018.
A Guide Dogs spokeswoman said: “As a charity, we have ambitious plans to continue helping more people living with sight loss feel confident, independent and supported in the world.
“We invest each year to grow income so we can meet future anticipated demand for our services. This has proved a successful approach in recent years, and so we have been able to scale back our investment in fundraising in 2018.
“Since 2012 we have increased the range of services we offer, going beyond the dog to offer a sighted guide service (My Guide), recreation, technology, education and mobility services to children as well as Buddy Dogs. The number of people we are helping has therefore increased significantly.
“Our fundraising investments ensure a significant pay back over the long term and we believe making this investment now will ensure our fundraising income is sustainable in the future.”
Key statistics
Total income
£108.7m, up from £107m the previous year.
Income for charitable application
£62.2m, up from £61.8m the previous year.
Main expenditure
The charity spent £49.7m on the provision of 5,205 guide dogs, compared to £49.3m the previous year.
Full time equivalent staff
1,382, up from 1,357 the previous year.
Highest salary
Between £130,000 and £140,000.
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