Charities Institute Ireland hosts only Irish screening of new film ‘Uncharitable’

Panelist on the day include: Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer, CEO of Make a Wish Ireland and Chair of Cii, Aisling Fitzgerald, Head of Not-for-Profit Assurance Practice at PWC, Jim Deignan CEO of Payzone and Breda O'Malley, Partner at Hayes Solicitors LLP

Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) on Thursday hosted the only Irish screening of new film ‘Uncharitable’, at the Irish Film Institute. The film, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and featuring Ed Norton, is based on Dan Pallotta’s work championing the charity sector and is a re-examination of the fundamental conceptions of the charity sector, covering Pallotta’s long-running campaign to change perceptions about overhead costs.

Too many charities, Pallotta says, are rewarded for how little they spend -- not for what they get done. Instead of equating frugality with morality, he asks us to start rewarding charities for their big goals and big accomplishments (even if that comes with big expenses). The film encourages us all to change the way we think about changing the world..

Speaking in advance of the screening Áine Myler, CEO, Charities Institute Ireland said:

“Charities play an essential role in our economy and our society. A recent study from the Charities Regulator, reported that 1 in 8 adults are employed in the sector (281,000) and one in five of all Irish adults (648,000) volunteers in some way, including 46,000 charity trustees.  It’s clear that it is to the benefit of everyone who works for, uses, supports or funds these services that charities operate effectively, efficiently and in compliance with all company, financial and regulatory laws. Investing in solid operating structures and systems is vital to the success of a charity’s efforts.

"Unfortunately, misunderstandings about how charities work, insufficient funding, and ill-informed criticism about overhead costs has led to a situation where many charities are under-investing in key areas. We believe it is crucial now to come together and discuss how we change this narrative.

“We are delighted to bring everyone together this morning to discuss and debate this really important issue and work together to do what we do best – solving complex societal issues and supporting vulnerable people.”

Following the screening, a panel discussion featuring experts from across business and the not-for-profit sector was held. The panellists shared their insights and perspectives on the film and the sector more generally, encouraging those in attendance to consider how the film’s concept might help to change the narrative for the Irish charity sector.