GIANT PUSHES ANTI-POVERTY PROJECTS

The veteran heavyweight is well known for disaster relief but it spends almost as much (and wants to spend more) on development - helping people work their way out of poverty. It works with more than 1,000 partner organisations in 75 countries. Oxfam's clear annual report suggests a well-managed outfit that's more sensitive than most to its beneficiaries.

Are you from this charity? Have your say.

QUALITY OF REPORTING

What is this?
89%
How much info does the charity want to share? This score, taken from our search for 43 key points in the annual report, gives the answer. Top mark is 100%. Anything over 70% is a good effort.

SIZE OF CHARITY...

What is this?
Super size
We only profile the largest charities in England & Wales, and our sizes are relative to the largest and smallest among them. So where we describe a charity as 'Small', it is still much larger than the national average.

HIGHEST SALARY

What is this?
£80k to £99k
Taken from the vague bandings given in annual reports; note that 'Under £60k' could be £9k or £59k. Nonetheless the number of bars should roughly correlate with the 'Size of charity' bars.

RESERVES WOULD LAST...

What is this?
2 months
If income dried up, how long could work continue? 3-12 months is normal. Less may be precarious. 12+ months may be over-cautious (or if very high, may represent the value of the charity's property).

ETHICAL INVESTMENT POLICY

What is this?
Unknown
We asked the charity if it has an ethical investment policy. If yes, it gets an angel. Those with no policy but which don't invest in tobacco/arms get a halo. Those without investments, or who didn't respond, appear neutral. Those with stakes in arms/tobacco get a fallen angel.

Reviewed: 2007-12-10     Accounts ending: 2007-04-30

IN SHORT

Who/what it helps

  • People in poverty
  • People in poor countries

Where

  • Worldwide

Providing

  • Development programmes
  • Disaster relief
  • Grants to other organisations
  • education
  • Public campaigning on poverty

VITAL STATISTICS

ANNUAL EXPENDITURE
£297,200,000
What is this?
Of all the charities we profile...
- Less than £1m is tiny
- £1m to £5m is small
- £6m to £10m is medium
- £11m to £50m is large
- Above that is very rare
SPENT ON CHARITABLE WORK
71%
The rest usually goes into raising more income. A little covers legal requirements.


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Reader's comments

Submitted by Nathanael on Tue, 11/12/2007 - 2:04pm.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your comment. As a result of your enquiry, I did have quite an extensive search on the Oxfam website, but could not find the 79% figure. No matter. I'm sure it is there.

We calculate charitable expenditure by figuring out what percentage of a charity's overall expenditure went on charitable activities. We do this from 'the statement of consolidated financial activities' in a charity's annual report. It's easy to work out. We just divide 'charitable activities' figure by the 'total resources expended' figure. Some charities calculate their charitable expenditure in different ways, and that's fine. We just feel that our way is simple and understandable.

In fact,the figure above (73%) is from last year's Oxfam accounts (2005-6). The 2006-7 accounts have just come out. ASAP, we will update this profile to 2007. I did calculate the 2007 charitable expenditure ratio, and it came to 72%.

Charitable expenditure ratios can get quite political with different charities trumpeting varying figures, that 'prove' how efficient they are. At 'Intelligent Giving', we take a reasonably relaxed view towards it all. We realise that governance costs, costs of generating funds, and other associated costs, can amount to quite a lot. As long as a charity doesn't spend too little on its charitable activities (around 70% is absolutely fine), then we are not bothered by the figure.

In fact, as you will surely know, the most important point is not what percentage an outfit spends on 'charitable activities', but how they spend that money. Is the money actually making a difference? Is it going to the right places? Is it being handled by the right people? And from Oxfam's impressive track record, you can be pretty sure that it is.

Please reply if you have more questions or queries

Nat Ogborn, Intelligent Giving


Submitted by Steve Ryan (not verified) on Tue, 11/12/2007 - 11:58am.

This site says that 73% of Oxfams income is spent on charitable work ,but the Oxfam site says 79 % ?????


Submitted by LMC on Wed, 22/11/2006 - 9:36am.

My main issue with Oxfam is the wretched begging letters addressed "To occupier" with free pen. Yes, I know it must work and be cost-effective, or they wouldn't do it. But I don't give to *any* organisation that adds to my rubbish/recycling pile.

(For the record, I've been signed with Mailing Preference Service for years and am anxiously awaiting for the Post Office to get its act together and action the "Please don't give me unaddressed mail" request I sent them :non-existent rolleyes emoticon:)

On a more positive note: "big up" to Oxfam for helping the Ethiopian Government to take on Starbucks in Ethiopian coffee farmers' (IMO completely justified) attempt to retain intellectual property rights over Ethiopian names.


Submitted by Luke FitzHerbert (not verified) on Wed, 22/11/2006 - 12:20am.

I particularly like the element of self criticism in many Oxfam reports. International development is appallingly difficult, but you would never guess this from the reports of many charities.

Luke FitzHerbert


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