Donations to Concern down 17%

PUBLIC DONATIONS to Irish-based international relief agency Concern dropped by 17 per cent last year to €50.3 million, new figures show.

According to Concern’s 2011 annual report on its worldwide operations, it shows that the agency’s spend last year topped €160.3 million – an increase of 6 per cent on the €150.7 million spent in 2010.

The 2010 Haitian appeal boosted donations that year and according to Concern’s annual report, “given the major emergencies which boosted 2010 income, the fall in 2011 was broadly in line with expectations and was somewhat ameliorated by the public response to the crisis in east Africa”.

The report states that “during 2011, Concern’s income continued to be affected by the difficult and uncertain global economic environment”.

It confirms that one unidentified member of staff received a salary between €125,000 and €135,000 in 2011 with a second receiving between €95,000 and €105,000. The aggregate remuneration for Concern’s seven key management team last year totalled €697,692 – or €99,670 on average.

They are listed as chief executive Tom Arnold; deputy chief executive and chief operations officer Jim Hynes; UK executive director Rose Caldwell; Director of Public Affairs Richard Dixon; strategy, advocacy and learning director Connell Foley; overseas director Paul O’Brien and human resources director, Louise Supple.

Globally, Concern increased the number it employed last year from 3,176 to 3,445 with staff costs decreasing from €12.47 million to €12.3 million. The figures show that the amount generated from voluntary income, including public appeals, accounted for 31 per cent or €50.3 million of the €160.3 million generated in total last year.

The largest source of funding for Concern is the EU which contributed €32.7 million last year with the Irish Government contributing €24.4 million and the UK government contributing €11.7 million.

Concern increased its spend on charitable activities last year by 7per cent from €138.5 million to €148.6 million. The cost of generating funds last year declined from €11.4 million to €10.7 million.

The additional €10 million spent on charitable activities last year resulted in Concern recording a loss of €70,000 last year compared to a surplus of €16.3 million.