Engaging with the question of Scottish independence is in the interest of charities and their beneficiaries – wherever in the UK they are based. James Jopling explains why

On Thursday 18 September 2014, the people of Scotland will vote on independence from the rest of the UK. This is a date that resonates with increasing numbers of people in Scotland, and a decision that impacts far more widely.

A ‘yes’ vote would result in the establishment in 2016 of Scotland as a sovereign nation; a no ‘vote’ would lead to political debate about any further devolution of powers to Scotland. What is certain is that, whatever the outcome, it will affect the future landscape of charitable activity in Scotland.

Wherever you are based in the UK and whatever your role, I’d argue it’s now time to give the question of Scottish independence some attention in your charity. It’s a considerable challenge for anyone to try and understand what this could mean. But if you don’t yet know, join the club; the evidence suggests that many people in the sector don’t either. And large numbers haven’t even begun thinking about it.

The 2012 report from the CarnegieUK Trust, A Charitable Concern, looked at how charities were preparing for the potential constitutional change. At the point of this survey, the date and exact question the Scottish electorate were to be asked weren’t yet fixed. This might explain why the vast majority of trustees hadn’t yet engaged in the topic.

More recently, we’ve seen a survey by the Institute of Fundraising (IOF) in Scotland (where I’m a member of the executive committee). Consistent with the CarnegieUK work was strong evidence of a continued lack of discussion of the impacts of independence by charities and fundraisers. I don’t think this should continue any longer.

Getting started

So where to begin? I don’t think anyone should consider this issue in isolation. There may be any number of other external factors that could impact on whether your income will change in the next three to five years, of which possible independence is only one. And the degree to which independence would be part of that change will vary by the nature of your work and the cause. But this may not be along the lines you might assume.
We already know, thanks to the on-going research of nfpSynergy, that recognition differs in relation to charities and causes in Scotland to the rest of the UK, particularly across the international and domestic sectors. For example, in Scotland, Oxfam is more widely known than Cancer Research UK as the first charity people think of. International charities also have the most devoted supporters and the most popular campaigns. So it is certainly not the case that the independence debate is narrowing the charitable horizons of the Scottish population.

Breaking down barriers

Research by nfpSynergy research also shows that a UK-wide audience would be less likely to give to a charity working only in Scotland. And that people in Scotland would be more likely to give to Scottish charities after independence, if this was the outcome. My feeling is this may reflect the longstanding donor desire for local impact as much as a dramatic shift in giving behaviour. Of course, in the instance of a ‘yes’ vote, it’s likely that culturally and politically Scotland feels more local to residents and further away to those who don’t live here. So regardless of the referendum outcome, the importance of demonstrating how your charity is having an impact that resonates with your supporters is as important as ever. But just sticking a saltire on your envelopes is unlikely to be the solution.
The implications of this question spread into most areas of fundraising. The IOF Scotland survey highlighted some concerns about the potential loss of income from UK-wide trusts currently funding Scottish operating charities. This could potentially be the case for UK-wide corporate giving programmes too. Surely, though, this also creates an opportunity to make a stronger case for support from Scottish-based trusts and companies, if that is your base.

What’s next?

It’s difficult, if not impossible, for anyone within the sector to be able to predict not only the outcome of the referendum, but also the consequent economic, legal and social consequences of the vote – let alone how this would affect your charity. But whether your role is operational or strategic, in a cross-border charity dominating your sector or a community-based organisation in Scotland, I would urge you to take some time in the next year to consider the implications. Not for you, but for your beneficiaries and supporters – wherever they are based. They don’t know the outcome either. But they will want to know that your charitable work is as relevant and vital after the referendum as it is today.

James Jopling is director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer

This article first appeared in The Fundraiser magazine, Issue 32, August 2013