We’re only halfway through 2018 but it has been an exciting year already for the charity sector, which continues to raise money for valuable aid and help those in need. It is a known fact; charities have many diverse ways of raising funds and consequently providing help for others. However, challenges, from time to time, still arise.

To alleviate the margin for failure, it is important that charities are aware of the challenges that they may face, and at the same time must understand ways they can overcome these. Charity organisations, whether they are big or small, are used to dealing with complex and important responsibilities daily.

Although 2018 is a year of opportunities, there will still be challenges that various charities will have to face.

Connecting with the Younger Generation

A charities success is largely based upon the support they receive from the public, and different charities reach out to different audiences who they believe can make a significant difference. The younger generation, for example, have grown up in a vastly digital world, surrounded by technology where many things are done online.

Charities will need to become proficient in online activities, adapting to the world of social media and making use of the channels offering interactive campaigns to this type of demographic. The Charity Digital Skills Report indicated in 2017, 50% of charities did not have a digital strategy. This is a vital element for charities to make a significant impact, reach a wider audience and achieve substantial progress.

Operational Efficiency

Charities are under constant pressure to succeed, and to ensure this occurs it is vital for charities to operate with maximum efficiency. There are two ways this can be achieved:

• – Ensure everyone within the organisation understands the core objectives of the charity.
• – Produce a long-term strategy on the best way to maintain a sustainable performance.

By scrapping the idea of short-term fixes and focusing on the new way of viewing long-term achievements, it recognises a cost-effective way of ensuring development goals are being met.

GDPR Challenges

As of 25^th May 2018, the European General Data Protection (GDPR) was implemented. This, inevitably, contributed to some of the challenges organisations are currently facing.

GDPR was designed to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe, protecting and empowering all EU citizen’s data privacy and reshaping the way organisations across the region approach data privacy.

These new rules meant charities had to get rid of the mailing lists that were previously holding personal data. In turn, the difficulty of reaching potential charitable donors increased. To face these challenges, charities have used different channels, such as social media, to attract potential donors and raise awareness.

Here at Charity Retail Systems, we understand the importance of overcoming these challenges for businesses and charities. We are aware of the importance technology has on impacting any business, especially charities, and how this technology can be used to counteract the challenges many charities are still facing. We are dedicated to aiding the success of charity shops through our CHARiot EPOS system which helps keep complete control of all stock, at all times.

Digital platforms, such as social media, are playing a huge role in how charities are reaching out to their audience. If you would like to find out more information about our services, get in touch with a member of our friendly team today and find out how we can help you.