Digital has played a key role in keeping businesses alive pre pandemic and also during the pandemic. Like other sectors, various charity organisations have learnt or been somewhat forced to embrace digital, in order to stay relevant. 

Digital has emerged as a beneficial platform to not only reach out and bring in new consumers, but enhance the offering provided by charities. Still at the early stages, it is showing major signs of influence.

The Charity Digital Skills Report was launched by Skills Platform in partnership with Zoe Amar Digital, in order to monitor progress and help charities benchmark their skills and progress against their competitors. Their most recent survey has been developed to ask new questions to gather an insight into the current trends, as well as charities plans to maintain digital, as they emerge out of the pandemic. 

A survey, in which surveyed 350 charity professionals, saw the following key findings: 

60% of charities now have a digital strategy in place – up from last year’s 49%

Over two thirds of charities (67%) now see digital as a prime concern for their organisation, with similar numbers planning investment in digital infrastructure

The pandemic saw 83% of charities changing their services in response to demand, starting to offer online services

Charities have been using digital to reach new people during the pandemic. Almost 8 out of 10 (78%) have deployed digital to speak to new audiences

Just under a third of charities (31%) say their staff are burned out from the demands of intense remote working

More than half of charities (52%) would like their leadership team to provide a clear digital vision

These statistics show the impact digital has had on charity operations, and as a result, charities have not only embraced the impact of digital, but they now expect a ‘clear digital vision’ moving forward. Whilst providing new solutions for audience targeting and servicing, the way staff work has also seen a major change, which looks set to stay in the long term.