As the principle Non-Profit practitioner, 2into3 will be stimulating debate within the sector. We will be do this in a number of ways which we will notify you of here.

If you wish to be notified of these events and occasions, please leave us your contact email address, on the right

The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is to embark on a fund raising campaign to train and support its Olympic hopefuls compete in the 2012 Olympics. An estimated €2.4 million was invested in the most recent Olympics, and ISA estimates the annual cost to attain Olympic medal winning standard is €1.5million per year.

This cycle, Ireland campaigned in five Olympic classes and qualified in four for the actual Olympic Games, sending 6 sailors and 6 support staff to Beijing. In comparison, Team GB (Great Britain) sent 18 sailors and 42 support staff, and competed in each of the eleven classes. Ireland’s budget was dwarfed on the International stage - Ireland spent €2.4 million in comparison to Team GB’s €27.5 million, which excludes significant corporate sponsorship - an item of which included a Volvo car for each team member.

Colm Barrington, Chair of the Olympic Steering Group (OSG), says that the correlation between investing in top class sailors and Olympic success is in no doubt. “Team GB, one of the world’s greatest performing sailing teams, has invested in their elite sailors structured programme over the last 3 Olympiad. Of the 47 medals won in Beijing, GB sailing brought home 6 medals including 4 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. Now is the time to increase investment, and while some of this may come from the Sports Council, the current economic climate would suggest that such responsibilities will lie with the sailing community itself”.

Over the last three years, the OSG of the ISA has been stewarding Irish Olympic ambitions. Since 2005, young Olympic hopefuls have been taking part in the ISA Academy - a structured training programme that provides professional coaching and a managed progression from junior to Olympic level. Hundreds of young sailors aspire to be chosen for the Academy programme which has had some demonstrable success with medals secured at youth level at world and European championships this summer. However, despite obvious potential at Olympic level, there is still some way to go to before consistently challenging for medals. To provide internationally competitive support and training, the OSG need over €1.5 million additional funding per annum.

The OSG have engaged 2into3 Ltd. - consultants who specialise in fundraising strategy - to examine potential long term funding streams to support Irish Olympic sailing success. Results so far indicate the presence of a genuine hunger for success and a desire for international competitiveness at Olympic level, nevertheless, there is a clear funding issue that needs to be addressed, according to Harvey Duthie from 2into3. Duthie says that most Non-Profits rely on philanthropic support and the OSG is no exception. “The appointment of 2into3 underpins the OSG’s recognition of the potential opportunities in 2012 and their seriousness in terms of attracting the funding to realise Ireland’s sailing potential and ambition for the next Olympics” he said.

Article as it appeared on the AFLOAT website, www.afloat.ie, 20th October 2008.

“Fund Raising in a Cold Climate” provides a comparative analysis of the impact of significant world events on fundraising versus markets performance and also examines the impact of recessionary periods in the sector. The Non Profit sector, which represents 8.8% of the workforce in Ireland, is frequently referred to as the third sector due its scale and role in the economy.

The report, compiled by 2into3’s Dennis O’Connor and Deirdre Hatch, looks at specific events across a seventy year period from the fall of France in World II through to the impact of 9/11 and notes that, with one exception, in declining markets donations increased from between 4% and 46%. In 2002 when the Standards&Poor index dropped by 23% philanthropy actually increased by 1%.

The report also looks at economic trends and philanthropic giving over a 40 year period and found that once adjusted for inflation, donations on average drop by merely 0.7% during times of recession.

Dennis O’Connor, Director, 2into3 and co-author of “Fundraising in a Cold Climate” suggests that while there will be changes to the manner and source of giving if history were to repeat the trend, then planned giving could potentially increase.

“Undoubtedly there will be an impact on the different types of fundraising activities and the returns in terms of donations with more emphasis on major philanthropic gifts rather than traditional mass appeals. The Irish have always been very good at giving but in the current climate it would be ill advised to rely on personal contributions from individuals who may themselves be experiencing the effects of the economic decline. On the other hand philanthropists tend not to give simply when times are good but continue to provide support through financial downturns. This is particularly relevant in Ireland where philanthropy or the provision of major gives is still in its infancy compared to other developed economies such as the US and the UK. It is an area of huge growth potential and in the current economic climate may in fact galvanise some potential philanthropists who would have amassed significant wealth in recent years”, stated Mr. O’Connor.

Concluding Mr. O’Connor said “This is not to say that Non Profit organisations should be complacent. Some non-profit businesses are more recession proof than others. In this context there is a myriad of factors at play that influence how a non-profit may fare in difficult economic times. Fundraising techniques, the mission of the organisation, the donor base and the organisation’s operation are all key factors”.

Since the public release of Fundraising in a Cold Climate Dennis O’Connor has been asked by The Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) to present his paper at their annual conference on the 11th November 2008. You can download your own copy of the report here........Download Article

The Centre for Nonprofit Management, Trinity College, Dublin in partnership with the Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University, are holding a definitive education Programme for Fundraisers, The Principles & Techniques of Fundraising, in Dublin on 20 - 24 October 2008.

As a leading Practitioner in the non profit sector in Ireland 2into3 Chairman, Dennis O’Connor, will be contributing at the 5 day programme along with other contributors including Kinsley Aikens (Ireland Funds), Richard Dixon (Concern) and Mary Apied (President, Trinity Foundation).

Please visit www.cnm.tcd.ie for more information on this exciting programme.

2into3 Sponsors The Wheel Salary Survey

High demand for skilled professionals in charity organisations

The first survey of pay and benefits in Ireland’s community, voluntary and charitable organisations, published today, reveals a picture of a growing third sector with a high demand for professional skills.

Over 300 organisations participated in the survey commissioned by The Wheel (a non-profit support and representative body for Irish community, voluntary, and charitable organisations) and sponsored by 2into3 and mycharity.ie. The survey was conducted by Sonraí HR Research.

Ireland’s community, voluntary and charitable organisations currently employ over 40,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time staff, with volunteers providing the equivalent of a further 31,000 staff. As an industry the Non Profit Sector contributes more than €2.5 billion to the economy and accounts for 8.4 per cent of GDP employing 8.8 per cent of the work force.

The majority of the workers surveyed were female (82%), as was eight out of ten (85%) part-time workers. Half of the employees covered worked in the Health sector and a third of employees (30%) in the survey are involved in Development (including overseas development) and Housing activities.

Almost a quarter (23%) of the organisations in the survey indicated that they have experienced recruitment difficulties over the past 12 months. The main reasons stated by organisations as to why they were experiencing difficulties recruiting staff are that they could not find the right people, or could not find the right skills.

"The sector has grown extensively in recent years. One consequence of this growth has been an increase in demand for specific professional skills and competencies. The research also suggests that there is strong competition to recruit and retain staff not just within the non profit sector but also with the commercial sector. This survey provides quality information that will greatly assist individual organisations in their planning and budgeting. Repeating this survey regularly will enable us to track trends and see how the sector is developing with respect to other sectors of the economy,” said Deirdre Garvey, CEO of The Wheel.

If you would like to learn more about the salary survey please contact Amy Curtin, 2into3, directly on 01 6401914 or visit www.wheel.ie for more information.