Over 40% of Charities Unprepared for Cyber-Attacks, Survey Reveals

• •42% of charity governance professionals report limited cyber-attack preparedness.
• •76% of charity boards lack adequate AI risk management capabilities.
• •Financial resilience is a top concern for charities, impacting cybersecurity focus.

A recent survey by the Chartered Governance Institute of UK & Ireland found that over 40% of charity governance professionals reported their organizations have 'limited or non-existent' preparedness for cyber-attacks. The survey, which included 319 governance professionals, highlighted that charity boards are the least equipped to handle artificial intelligence (AI) risks, with 76% indicating limited or absent capability in this area. Additionally, one-third of respondents noted their boards have no meaningful capacity to address AI risks. The findings suggest that many charity boards are struggling to keep up with developments in AI and cybersecurity, with financial pressures further complicating their ability to prepare. The report calls for policymakers and regulators to provide more practical support to help charities enhance their governance capabilities against these risks.