The Third World agency, Trocaire, has confounded predictions of "donor fatigue" by increasing the amount it raises from the public. Trocaire's total income last year came to £12.9 million, up almost 7 per cent on the previous year, according to its latest annual report.
This included money raised from church collections and donations of £4.94 million, a marginal increase on 1995.
Most of the remaining income came from co-financing schemes with the government and the EU. In 1995 Trocaire received £2.3 million from the government and £2.6 million from the EU.
Falling church attendances and the lack of a major humanitarian disaster in the world were expected to have an impact on fund-raising at the agency, which is run by the Catholic church.
However, income was buoyed by a successful appeal last November for the Rwandan refugees living in camps in Zaire, Tanzania and Burundi. This raised £1.1 million.
The cornerstone of the agency's fund-raising remains the Lenten campaign, which last year raised £4.1 million for long-term development and emergency work in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Trocaire's director, Mr Justin Kilcullen, called for a 10-year aid commitment to Africa to focus on rehabilitation and long-term development.
Spending on administration and fund-raising was 9.6 per cent of total income. The agency said this was low in comparison to other developing world charities.
Next year, the 25th anniversary of the agency, will be marked by a special programme of events and fund-raising. So far, Trocaire has raised over £149 million for the developing world in the 24 years of its existence.
Africa continues to account for the majority of projects. Last year the agency spent £6.5 million on 413 projects in Africa, out of total spending of £10 million. Almost £2 million was spent in Latin and South America, and £700,000 in Asia.
Since the report was completed, however, Trocaire has raised more than £1 million in a public appeal for the victims of famine in North Korea.
