THE REHAB Group has emerged as one of the largest non-profit organisations in Ireland with an income of almost €190 million last year.
It is one of an estimated 8,000 charities and non-profits registered in Ireland which have a combined income of about €5.75 billion and employ about 100,000 people.
Until recently, information about this sector was available only from the individual non-profits themselves and from regulatory authorities such as the Companies Registration Office.
However, searches on the Irish Non-profits Database (beta.irishnonprofits.ie) and individual company accounts show that some of the biggest non-profit companies have sizeable turnovers and often employ several thousand people.
Among the biggest charities or non-profits are Concern Worldwide – which had an income of €167 million last year – and the disability service provider St Michael’s House in Dublin which had an income of €92 million.
University foundations – which are involved in generating financial support from private individuals and corporations – are raising millions of euro for University of Limerick, NUI Galway and University College Cork.
Of the 8,000 or so charities and non-profits listed on the Irish Non-profits Database, about half benefit from charitable tax exemption from the Revenue Commissioners and are obliged to provide details of their accounts.
While they show how much money non-profits raised and spent, they do not typically provide details of the salaries of senior staff members.
The remainder of the non-profits are charitable organisations – such as schools, religious groups and others – who are not required to provide detailed financial information, although this is likely to change when the new Charities Act is fully implemented.
The Rehab Group, an independent not-for-profit organisation which works for social and economic inclusion among people with disabilities and others, is among the largest of the non-profits based in Ireland.
It employs about 3,500 people, provides training, employment, social care and commercial services in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands and Poland.
The downturn has hit the organisation with income falling from €207 million in 2009 to €187 million last year as a result of a drop in commercial activity combined with reductions in “service funding”. Most of its income comes from charitable activities and fundraising, as well as public funding. While it is unclear how much it received in 2010, the organisation received up to €50 million in public funding in 2009.
Despite the downturn, the group recorded a slightly increased surplus, up from €1.9 million in 2009 to €2.3 million last year. Its net assets also increased from €51 million to €59 million over the same period.
The group’s operations are substantially not for profit and avail of the exemption for charities from corporation tax.
Other major non-profits in the area of disability include St Michael’s House in Dublin.
It received an income of about €96.8 million in 2009. While it had a modest excess of income over expenditure, overall it ended up losing about €300,000 in the same year.
The database also shows that university foundations – which are involved in generating financial support from private individuals and corporations – are raising significant funds for third-level institutions. Of the main universities, the University of Limerick Foundation raised the most funds in 2009, generating an income of €7.3 million.
It has total funds of €13.9 million. Galway University Foundation has also been raising major sums of money in recent years.
It received an income of €5.7 million in 2009. The previous year it received some €24 million.
Overall, it had total funds worth some €60 million in 2009, significantly more than any other university foundation.
In the area of tackling poverty, latest figures for the Society of St Vincent de Paul show it raised some €60 million over a 12-month period.
Barnardos, the children’s charity, raised €26 million, while Focus Ireland raised some €19 million in 2009.
Many charities have been badly hit, mostly as a result of the economic downturn. For example, income for the Iris O’Brien Foundation, established by businessman Denis O’Brien, fell from more than €7 million in 2008 to €2.6 million in 2009.
Non-profits account details
THERE ARE an estimated 8,000 charities and not-for profit organisations registered in Ireland. Some of the largest groups include:
The Rehab Group (2010)
Income: €187 million
Excess of income over expenditure: €2 million
Total funds: €59 million
Concern Worldwide (2010)
Income: €167 million
Excess of income over expenditure: €5 million
Total funds: €26 million
St Michael's House (2009)
Income: €97 million
Excess of income over expenditure: €200,000
Total funds: €55 million
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (2009)
Income: €73 million
Excess of income over expenditure: €4 million
Total funds: €70 million
Ability West (2009)
Income: €25 million
Excess of income over expenditure: -€369,000
Total funds: €13 million
Focus Ireland (2009)
Income: €19 million
Excess of income over expenditure: -€164,400
Total funds: €3 million
* The Irish Non-profits Database (beta.irishnonprofits.ie), as well as individual annual reports from selected non-profits and charities. The years in brackets related to the date for which the annual accounts were filed. The phrase "total funds" is equivalent to net assets. For clarity, figures have been rounded up or down.