JAGGAER: Rebuilding Trust Through Transparent Procurement

As the charity sector enters its traditional peak "giving season", many organisations are investing in new campaigns to inspire generosity. Yet recent years have brought a sharp fall in donations and sponsorship, with four million fewer people donating and six million fewer sponsoring in 2024 than in 2019, according to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

Younger people are giving less often and in smaller numbers, with fewer than half of 16-24-year-olds reporting that they donated or sponsored a cause in 2024.

Several factors are thought to be at play: fewer in-person fundraising touchpoints due to remote learning, the decline of cash that once made spontaneous giving easy and ongoing cost-of-living pressures that limit financial flexibility.

Here, Mark Roberts, UK Public Sector Director at JAGGAER, speaks to Procurement Magazine about the impact of the Procurement Act on charities, the day‑to‑day scrutiny of procurement and why transparency holds the key. 

Beyond financial pressures, how are younger generations' expectations of charities different?

Younger donors are less moved by purely emotional appeals and more motivated by transparency, authenticity and measurable social impact. They want clarity not only on what a charity does, but exactly how it operates and how every pound is spent. 

While affordability is the biggest barrier for everyone, lack of trust is emerging as a second major obstacle across all age groups, particularly among older donors who have historically been the most generous. 

Many worry that their donations may not be used effectively or ethically, so they look for much stronger evidence of good stewardship.

What does the evidence tell us about the link between transparency and giving?

Research shows a clear correlation: when donors understand how spending is managed at every stage, including procurement, they are more likely to give and to give more. Charities that openly share governance information, finances and impact data consistently attract higher levels of support, because visibility creates confidence and confidence drives generosity. 

Studies indicate that charities which publish detailed financial data, governance information and impact reporting tend to receive more donations than those that do not. Transparency is not simply a moral obligation; it is a proven driver of financial resilience and long‑term donor confidence.

How does the new UK Procurement Act change the picture for charities?

The Act represents a fundamental shift in how organisations manage procurement and it applies to charities where they act as contracting authorities or engage with public funding. It aims to streamline procurement while opening up opportunities for SMEs, start‑ups and social enterprises, and it raises the bar for transparency and reporting. 

The move from MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) to MAT (Most Advantageous Tender) means decisions are no longer driven predominantly by lowest price. Contracting bodies can now consider wider value factors such as carbon footprint, diversity, community contribution and broader social value alongside affordability, rewarding organisations that embed responsible sourcing and social impact into their procurement.

How does this translate into day‑to‑day scrutiny of procurement?

The Act increases the amount of performance and contract data that must be published and reported, including to the Cabinet Office. 

Procurement decisions will therefore face greater public and regulatory scrutiny than ever before, so documentation, audit trails and consistent processes become essential, not optional.

Where do digital procurement platforms come in for charities?

Digital platforms allow charities to centralise, monitor and document every purchasing decision. They automate tendering, capture a complete audit trail and provide real‑time visibility of spend and supplier performance, which makes it far easier to demonstrate that funds are being used efficiently and in line with stated values.

Smaller charities can benefit significantly from accessible digital tools that embed transparency into day‑to‑day operations. For example, platforms can flag suppliers' sustainability credentials or validate that energy and materials come from ethical sources, helping small organisations make robust, values-aligned choices without needing large back‑office teams. 

Mid‑sized organisations are using procurement technology to unify purchasing across locations, cut off‑contract spend and standardise ethical criteria. Centralised systems also remove the burden of manual reporting, support pre‑approved supplier portals and enable leadership to evidence consistent, responsible spending without wading through piles of invoices.

How can technology help with high‑value contracts and complex international supply chains?

For categories such as construction, transport or specialist services, digital platforms make tendering more transparent and equitable by running the entire process within a single system. 

Bids are issued, received and evaluated in one place, decisions are evidence‑based and auditable, and alerts can flag non‑compliance on issues such as modern slavery policies or carbon reduction commitments.

For international NGOs with complex, multi‑tier supply chains, advanced digital tools allow them to map supply chains across multiple tiers and jurisdictions, perform due diligence on ownership, and screen suppliers against sanctions or corruption databases before awarding contracts. 

Even when primary contractors subcontract work, the charity retains oversight of who is involved and whether every entity meets ethical and legal standards, substantially reducing the risk of working with corrupt or exploitative partners.

Why does procurement matter so much when it comes to trust?

Every purchasing decision is a direct reflection of a charity's values and its commitment to fairness, integrity and responsible use of resources. 

When procurement is transparent, it shows that accountability runs through every layer of the organisation, not just in fundraising campaigns or frontline programmes, and donors respond positively to that consistency.

What bigger shifts are forcing charities to reconsider their approach to procurement now?

Donor scepticism, generational disengagement and new legislative demands are converging. Together, they make it impossible to treat procurement as a purely administrative function; it becomes central to how charities prove that every pound spent supports the mission and upholds high ethical standards.

For charity leaders, what opportunities does The Procurement Act present?

The Procurement Act effectively gives charities permission to think of procurement as a strategic lever rather than a necessary burden.

By investing in technology and processes that enhance transparency, they can demonstrate compliance with confidence and use procurement to drive social impact, community value and financial sustainability.

How would you summarise the link between procurement, transparency and renewed generosity?

When charities can clearly show how money flows from donation to impact, including through their procurement choices, donors regain confidence that their contributions matter.

That trust encourages people to give again, and to give more, enabling charities to continue their vital work in an increasingly challenging environment.