At Children on the Edge, we want to reassure you that the vast majority of your donation goes directly to the cause you care about. But it’s also important to clear up some myths about running costs and why they matter.
Charity running costs, often called 'administration' costs, sometimes get a bad reputation. There's a misconception that charities take generous donations and spend most of them on staff salaries, expensive fundraising, or fancy offices.
Right now, 89p of every £1 we receive goes directly to supporting our programmes around the world, helping communities protect and educate their children. The remaining 11p covers essential running costs, including fundraising, so we can continue this work effectively.
While administrative costs can sometimes be misunderstood, charities - just like businesses and public organisations - need skilled staff, good management, and strong systems to operate efficiently.
At Children on the Edge, our priority isn’t to spend as little as possible on running costs - it’s to make sure we deliver the best possible support to the children who need it. This means we invest in key areas like research, planning, safeguarding, and monitoring to ensure long-term, sustainable impact.
We work hard to make sure every pound is spent wisely. Here’s how:
Partnering with local organisations and hiring local staff instead of flying in resources.
Keeping wages modest and using part-time staff and volunteers wherever possible.
Building genuine relationships with donors instead of spending on costly marketing materials.
Avoiding cold-calling, street fundraising agencies, and unnecessary mail campaigns.
We believe in treating both the children we support and our donors with dignity and respect. That means no pushy fundraising tactics, no constant requests to increase donations, and full transparency about how we use your money.
Our office in Chichester is simple and functional. Anything that looks expensive has been kindly donated to us. If you'd like to see for yourself, we’d love to welcome you for a chat (and a cup of tea)!
