There is a growing “digital divide” between large and small charities, experts have warned.
Future funding must be used to “shore up” sustainable digital work at smaller charities in particular, the latest annual Charity Digital Skills Report said.
The report, which is based on a survey of more than 400 charity leaders and published by Zoe Amar Digital and Think Social Tech, also found that charities were substantially more likely to be helping staff work remotely compared with 12 months ago, with only one in 10 charities saying they planned to return full-time to the office.
The research found that large charities, with an annual income of over £1m, were more likely to see digital work as a priority than small charities, by 48 per cent to 30 per cent. Nearly half of all charities said that they “have not been able to access grant funding for digital over the past year”, which the report said was evidence of “significant unmet need”.
The report said: “There looks to be a greater divide emerging between the charities that are now approaching digital strategically and those that are at earlier stages.
“Small charities also tend to be at an earlier stage of digital, requiring tailored support and funding. Charities have told us about some significant funding and support needs, such as funding for devices, software and infrastructure, training and skills development.
“If these needs go unmet, it will diminish their impact.
“We need a sector-wide approach to funding digital more effectively to shore up charities’ sustainability.”
It added: “Small charities would benefit from dedicated support and funding to close what looks like a growing digital skills gap between large and small charities.”
The research also found that the proportion of charities offering hybrid services to beneficiaries, through a mix of in-person and online arrangements, has dropped from 71 per cent last year to 55 per cent in 2022.
The data shows that the wellbeing impact on staff of digital changes “has become more critical”, with the proportion of organisations helping staff with the impact of remote work more than doubling compared with 2021.
However, charity staff reported ongoing worries about the digital support available from trustees.
The research found that 64 per cent of boards had digital skills that were “either low or have room for improvement”, up from 58 per cent last year. Only six per cent of boards said they planned to recruit a specialist digital trustee, almost unchanged from 12 months ago.
The research said: “This is worrying given charities’ increased digital adoption.”
The report’s findings are based on a survey of 435 charity sector professionals. About six in 10 work for charities with an annual income of under £1m.
Zoe Amar said: “Over the five years since launching the Charity Digital Skills Report, it is clear there has been some real incremental change and progress in a digital landscape that was suddenly accelerated in response to the pandemic.
“However, as we enter recovery, it’s important that progress is accelerated, and the starkest challenge seems to be funding.
“Digital needs to be funded more effectively across the sector to increase impact.”