"Plan International found nfpSynergy very professional in dealing with the different demands of our offices around the world. We have no hesitation in recommending them to others seeking such incisive surveys."

Simon Heap, Plan International

Social Investment at nfpSynergy

Unlike many companies that approach their social investment as a side interest, our social investment programme runs as a thread through every aspect of our business. At its core is the range of research reports and briefings we produce each year that are free to download and that benefit non-profit organisations. We support CharityComms (the sector body for communications) by providing free office space and financial support for their internship programme.

We use evidence from our research to campaign on behalf of charities on key issues such as reducing the costs charged by mobile phone companies for charitable donations by SMS. We support small non-profits by providing free places at our seminars, by doing talks to groups all over the UK and through pro bono research assistance. Our approach to business shows clearly that even a small company (£1.6 million turnover, 20 staff) can put social investment at the heart of a business, do a huge amount to help voluntary and community organisations and still be profitable.

What forms does our social investment take?

Social investment in the marketplace

Free research for charities

In the process of undertaking paid work for clients, nfpSynergy accumulates vast amounts of contextual insight about charities and the issues that they need to face. On the basis of this cumulative knowledge, we produce free research reports for the charity sector. We have more than 50 free reports available to download on our website, as well as editorials, free briefings and presentations on topics of interest to the charity sector.

Topics on which we have produced reports include:

    • branding
    • fundraising
    • volunteering
      • understanding young people’s help seeking behaviour
    • how charities use the internet and new technology
    • governance

By producing free reports, editorials, and presentations we help small charities (with little or no budget for research) benefit from our wealth of data and knowledge of the third sector.

Social investment in the community

Support for CharityComms

nfpSynergy underwrites substantially the operating expenses of CharityComms, the professional body for communicators in the charity sector. We have given over £50Kof support to CharityComms to facilitate its operations, including:

     • Office space and support: CharityComms’ staff of 4 operates out nfpSynergy’s offices free of charge for rent, administration and IT support.
     • nfpSynergy pays the salary of CharityComms’ interns, providing cost savings and a roll-on effect of providing training to aspiring professionals in the charity communications sector
     • financial support for the development of their website

Support for the Institute of Fundraising and the text donations campaign

We carried out a major research project at no charge to the Institute of Fundraising and published the results, titled: ‘Sending out an SMS: the potential of mobile phones and text messaging for charities and non-profit organisations’. The result of a year's work by nfpSynergy, CAF, and the Institute of Fundraising, this report aims to encourage greater use of mobile phones and text messaging as a fundraising and communications tool for charities. Since publication, we have embarked on a campaign with the mobile phone operators in the UK to reduce their charges which has resulted in text donations remitting 95p out of a £1.50 donation, down from £1.35p out of £1.50 for the two largest operators – O2 and Vodafone.

Support for small charities

nfpSynergy runs a number of events annually for clients where we present our research and latest ideas. Last year we reserved 100+ free places for organisations with a turnover of less than £1 million, providing access to market research for charities that cannot normally afford it. We run workshops for charity staff on issues as diverse as branding, stakeholder engagement, and staff development, which combined with our free reports give small charities with access to training and knowledge they couldn’t afford otherwise. We also give free talks to regional and rural charity fundraisers and volunteer managers, including more than a dozen of these in the last 2 years in locations including Bournemouth, Powys, Derbyshire, Llandudno, Edinburgh, and Dublin.

Social investment in the workplace

Support for staff to support charities

We offer our staff an average of 5 days per person out of work for volunteering each year. The following are just a few examples of staff volunteering to date:

     • trustee for Street Kids International
     • working with prisoners in HMP Grendon
   • work with the Mental Health Foundation on developing its vision
     • volunteering for Youth and Environment Europe
     • volunteering for WaterAid and Toynbee Hall
     • performing in a capoeira demonstration for the National Lottery

We also match all staff payroll charity donations as well as donations raised by staff for charitable events.

Suggestions?

If you have a suggestion for a topic you think we should research on behalf of the sector, please contact Joe Saxton or Jennifer Shea.

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