The Christian development charity Tearfund has reported a record rise in income thanks to an increase in individual donations, including a multimillion-pound gift.
The charity’s accounts for the year to 31 March 2020, filed with Companies House last week, show income rose 11 per cent on the previous year to £85.1m. Its income for 2018/19 was £76.3m.
The charity said the rise was mainly down to an increase in individual donations, up from £28.4m to £39.4m, including a “very generous multimillion-pound gift” – although it declined to reveal the size of that gift.
Institutional grants increased from £22.8m to £26.4m.
Spending also reached a record high, up to £85.2m, an increase of more than £2m on the previous year.
Expenditure on charitable activities rose slightly, to just over £73m.
The charity’s reserves for 2019/20 stood at £3.9m.
Salaries and wages for the charity’s 1,204 staff totalled £19.7m, including £296,000 spent on redundancy costs relating to nine staff, two of whom were paid £216,000.
The charity said this was paid out to “two long-standing employees, which came about as the result of a three-year international change process”.
In addition, it said none of the staff who were let go was asked to a sign non-disclosure agreement.
Tearfund had to defend its use of NDAs in January this year after The Times newspaper reported allegations from a whistleblower that the charity had attempted to cover up sexual assault claims.
In a statement, the charity said it had enjoyed a record year.
A spokesperson said: “Tearfund’s supporters remain loyal and incredibly generous.”