Income

Since 1985 Deafness Research UK has raised over £9 million.

According to NCVO figures, between 1991 and 1995, for charities in the equivalent income band (£100,000 to £1million), legacies and voluntary income increased. However, income from these sources levelled out in subsequent years, and decreased between 1999 and 2000.

During the early 1990's Deafness Research UK was one of country's fastest growing charities and, growth continued until the end of the decade with voluntary income (inclusive of legacies) increasing from £445K to £940K between 1995/96 and 1999/2000. The 1999/2000 figure reflected a number of large bequests which increased legacy income from £103K to over £391K. Legacies fell significantly in 2000/01 resulting in a sharp fall in total income to £611.3K. The underlying level of donation income rose from £356K in 1995/96 to £495K in 2000/01 peaking at £617K in 1998/99.

Working with other organisations

The charity has always had close links with other deafness organisations at all levels and in the mid 1990's the charity supported research projects within the RNID's tinnitus unit and established a joint studentship in tinnitus research with the British Tinnitus Association. Membership of United Kingdom Council on Deafness (UKCOD) and the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), ensures that the charity is in touch with the wide range of views and concerns among hearing impaired people and developments within the medical research charity sector.

Raising funds

With no statutory income and no significant investment income, Deafness Research UK relies on an active programme of fundraising and, while income/expenditure ratios must be kept at an acceptable level, it is necessary to invest in quality fundraising staff and database systems.

Reducing our early, almost total, dependence on grant-making trusts has been regarded as a priority and, with its potential for legacies and facilitating corporate support, building public support is seen as the key to this.

During the late 1990's a programme of mailed approaches to trusts and companies was developed based upon standard appeals to over 1,300 trusts and companies a year. A programme of appeal mailings to individuals was also developed to maximise the potential value of new names generated by the media and information activity and to increase donor commitment.

Steadily falling major gift and corporate sponsorship income, and the decline in charitable support by the National Lottery have all contributed to the need to undertake a fundamental review of these and other aspects of the fundraising strategy.