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We prioritise economy, efficiency and effectiveness in all we do and we are proud of our low overheads
Last year, 94p out of every £1 spent was spent on our charitable work overseas, with just 6p spent on governance, fundraising and UK operations (including development education and awareness raising in UK schools).
Our financial report
The Charities Act 1993 requires all registered charities to prepare a Trustees’ Annual Report (TAR) and accounts. The Charities Commission website offers a comprehensive overview of Concern Universal financial information including income, spending, annual reports, trustees and accounts.
Breaking it down
Expenditure by country
Each year, Concern Universal helps over 2 million people through nine country programmes around the world across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Expenditure by sector
Poverty is not just about being poor. It is being denied choice and opportunity- whether it’s a lack of food, water, healthcare, education, or just a feeling of powerless to make changes.
Expenditure per £1
During the 2012-2013 financial year our expenditure per pound was 92p spent directly on our charitable work overseas and 8p spent on administration costs. One of the best ratios in the industry.
Breakdown of 8p administration costs
For every £1 donated last year we spent just 8p on administration costs such as programme support, fundraising, governance, communications etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Concern Universal get its money from?
Our income comes from a variety of sources. Last year, we raised approximately 80% or our income from the EU, government grants and other major institutions. We raised the remaining 20% from Trusts and Foundations and businesses (12%) and individuals (5%). (Approximately 4% of our income was micro-finance income from Concern Universal Microfinance Operation (CUMO) in Malawi.)
What do you spend your income on? (Where does my money go?)
Last year, 92% of our total expenditure went directly on charitable activities in our nine country programmes overseas. The remaining 8% was spent on management and administration, fundraising and governance in the UK as well as development education and awareness raising in UK schools. For a full breakdown of which countries view the Expenditure by Country pie chart in finances at a glance. This expenditure enabled us to work with over 2 million people to improve health, reduce hunger, improve respect for rights, build skills and reduce vulnerability. For a breakdown of expenditure by sector and the number of people helped in these ways, view the pie charts above. (Please note these show last years’ figures and are currently being updated.)
How do I know my money goes where I want it to? (How do you avoid corruption?)
Concern Universal has staff and offices in every country of operation, who work in partnership with effective, trusted, locally-based organisations over many years. All programme expenditure is budgetted in advance, monitored and audited. Full accounts are consolidated in the UK and independently audited.
How much do you keep in reserves? (What is your reserves policy?)
Our aim is to hold 25 to 50% of ‘support costs’ in reserves. This is to protect our programmes and the people who benefit from them and work with Concern Universal against the risk of an unexpected reduction in income or cashflow. (The underlying rationale for the amount held in reserves is, in the event of a catastrophic collapse in funding, we would be able to cover the costs of winding down all operations over a minimum of 3 months.) Currently we hold approximately £500,000 in reserves.
International Aid Transparency Initiative
Concern Universal is compliant with the International Aid Transparency Initiative. This is a global commitment by donors and aid organizations to make information about aid spending easier to access, understand and compare. To view our profile, click here.
