Papers and Articles
Essays, surveys and other pieces of analysis of the leading issues in philanthropy...
Exploring Rwanda (2010)
From March 14th-20th Rwanda played host to The Philanthropy Workshop, examining the complexities of investment in global philanthropy and exploring some of the world’s most vital social innovations. Twenty members of The Philanthropy Workshop network spent a fascinating week impressed by Rwanda’s ambition and yet deeply conscious of the steep climb it faces as one of the world’s poorest countries with a 2020 dream of middle income prosperity. Challenges and opportunities explored over the course of the module included the uphill struggle for peace and reconciliation; the contribution that social innovation is making in strengthening health systems; the effort to drive rural development through both traditional charitable approaches and ‘new’ agri-business approaches; the endeavour to shift towards development through trade and away from aid dependency; the promise of investment in the impressive future leaders of the nation; the unique needs of the businesses at the forefront of Rwanda’s entrepreneurial growth; and the heartbreaking plight of the refugee population seeking to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Needless to say, the week was an exhausting, exhilarating race through some of development’s most critical issues. Please do download Exploring Rwanda: Towards a Better Future below for our reflections on the country itself, the role of strategic philanthropy in Rwanda, and general lessons for development that the country underlines.
The Power of Now (2010)
In recent years, charitable trust and foundation trustees have engaged in an increasing number of conversations and debates on the phenomenon of ‘spend out'. Spend out, known in the USA as ‘spend down' or ‘limited lifespan', refers to a trust's decision to spend all or part of its capital assets within a specified timeframe. While most trusts and foundations in the UK and the USA are still established in perpetuity and maintain endowments, the limited life option is beginning to attract more attention, though research in this area - particularly in the UK - is sparse. This 53-page paper, which includes case studies with some of the UK's leading foundations – including The Tubney Charitable Trust - seeks to broaden our wider understanding of spending out in the UK by examining trusts and foundations that are currently in the process of depleting their endowment and examining those factors leading to their decision to terminate.
On China: One Generation Plants the Trees, Another Gets the Shade (2010)
From November 1st to 6th 2009, a snowy Beijing played host to The Philanthropy Workshop, introducing 16 international philanthropists to the complexity of the Chinese social sector. Over the course of a week philanthropists gained unique insight into China, learning from specialists in migration, foundation leaders, energy experts, artists, journalists, human rights activists, capacity builders and microfinance institutions. This 23-page paper examines the dynamism of China's emerging civil society, the vision of some of its social entrepreneurs, and the sophistication with which NGOs were operating in a complex environment.
Supportive to the Core (2009)
Evidence suggests that current funding practices are compromising the effectiveness of non-profit organisations; this 25-page paper, containing case studies with foundation trustees, donors and grantees, explores the various merits of providing an organisation with unrestricted funding (that is to say, core support) as opposed to grants for specific projects. This does not mean doing away with project grants and providing completely unrestricted funding; instead, it means clarifying the combined goals of funder and grantee, and working out what kind of support the grantee organisation needs to achieve these goals. The Institute is currently running the Core Support Project, propagating the findings of this report and encouraging more donors to provide core funding.
Click here to find out more about this project.
Funding Strategically in the Area of Climate Change (2009)
This paper aims to help donors identify strategic intervention points for effective giving and action in the complex arena of climate change. It is a result of the Climate Change Funding Strategy Days held by the Institute for Philanthropy and Synergos in London and New York in May 2009. It presents summaries of presentations given to groups of engaged philanthropists by experts from diverse organisations working within the field, and by other donors.
Exploring China (2009)
The Institute prepared this paper for participants in The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) in advance of their visit to China in November 2009; it features the transcripts of addresses given to them by two highly-esteemed analysts and academics; the journalist and historian, Jonathan Fenby, and Athar Hussain, Director of the Asia Research Centre at the London School of Economics. Their talks contain important observations about the dynamic and changing historical, political and social contexts in which both charities and strategic philanthropy are increasingly emerging; the paper also includes our insights into charity and strategic philanthropy in China.
Giving in the Recession (2009)
Through original interviews with our donors and our partners, we have prepared a report on how donors are finding imaginative ways to fund strategically during the recession; the report includes ten tips for smarter giving, as well as six case studies with a range of individuals and institutions which explain how they are addressing the challenge of the current economic climate.
Investment Matters: In search of better charity asset management (2008)
Beth Breeze examines the management of UK charitable endowments holding at least £10 million in assets. This is a less noted aspect of philanthropy; how a charitable organisation can use its financial acumen to effect the best growth of those funds already under its control. An executive summary of the report can be read here.
‘We have now sold out of our paper copies of this report. Printable electronic copies in PDF format can still be purchased via the Paypal button below. Upon receipt of your order the document will be emailed to you as an attachment by the next working day.'
Public Benefit, Path Dependency and the Regulation of Philanthropy in the UK (2007)
John Townsend, a pupil barrister, discusses the new regulatory regime introduced by the Charities Act 2006.
UK Philanthropy's Greatest Achievements (2006) -
a study of the great advances that British society has made, thanks to the contributions of its philanthropists.
The Return of Philanthropy (2005) -
In Prospect magazine, Beth Breeze urges Britons to reclaim their place as world leaders in philanthropy.
Resources
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