The investigation, aired on Sunday Night, showed multi-national company Appco claiming up to 90 per cent of the millions of dollars fundraised for well-known charities, including Camp Quality.

Some Northern Tasmanian charities have voiced their concerns people could be turned off donating because they were worried where their money went.

If they were deterred, Clifford Craig Foundation chief executive Peter Milne said it would be vulnerable people who would ultimately face the backlash.

He anticipated some large, mainstream charities would lose donors “straight away”, which would mean cut backs to services.

“If [a charity] is trying to feed people who can’t feed themselves, there will be less money helping the people living on the streets, trying to give them some sort of food or comfort.”

He had already received multiple calls from supporters asking where their donations to the medical research charity ended up.

The news hit during a busy time of the year for many charities who hosted appeals to raise money or supplies as winter forced many to seek help, Mr Milne said.

He encouraged supporters to ask their charity where their money goes and what it is used for.

“The community really needs to have that assurity that the vast majority of charities do the right things with the donations they receive.

“We can say to our donors that 100 per cent of their donations will go to the cause that they want it to go to.”

Administration costs, which Clifford Craig covered by a capital fund, could be assisted by donations, but supporters should be well aware where their money was going, he said.

City Mission chief executive Stephen Brown hoped Northern Tasmanian charities would not be affected by backlash, but did not rule it out.

“Fewer donations would certainly impact our ability to provide food and support to the homeless,” Mr Brown said.