Consultant: Beth Breeze
Beth Breeze is a freelance researcher and writer specializing in philanthropy and charitable giving. She was previously deputy director at the Institute for Philanthropy and has also worked at the Social Market Foundation, Demos, the Fabian Society and the Cardinal Hume Centre for young homeless people.
Beth is a doctoral student at the University of Kent, due to complete her thesis on ‘The meaning and purpose of contemporary philanthropy in the UK’ in 2008. Her other academic credentials include a first class Masters degree in Social Anthropology from the University of St Andrews (1995) and a further Masters degree awarded with Distinction from the London School of Economics in Voluntary Sector policy (2001). She attended the University of Pennsylvania (1993-94) as a Robert Lincoln McNeil scholar.
Beth's publications include:
Philanthropy’s Greatest Achievements (Institute for Philanthropy, Dec 2006), based on a survey of sector experts, this paper presents an analysis of the major contributions made by philanthropic donations in both historical and contemporary Britain.
Robin Hood in reverse: exploring the relationship between income and charitable giving (Centre for Civil Society working paper 3, London School of Economics, July 2006).
The Return of Philanthropy (Prospect, Dec 2005, reprinted as an Institute for Philanthropy briefing paper Jan 2005), a review of the development of philanthropy in the UK, including a review of charitable tax breaks and a comparison with charitable giving in the US and other European countries.
A Blueprint for Giving (The Giving Campaign, June 2004) co-written with Professor Adrian Sargeant. Published to mark the end of the three year government- and sector-funded Giving Campaign, this paper contains recommendations for charities, the government, individuals, the media and business to fulfill the vision of doubling charitable giving in the UK by 2014.
Race to the Top: how government, business and consumers can drive corporate social responsibility (SMF, August 2003) edited collection of essays on the importance of corporate responsibility and recommendations for moving it up the agenda of government, business and consumers.
Making a Bigger Splash: moving from spare change to planned charitable giving (SMF, April 2003) uses new survey data on over 10,000 donors and makes recommendations aimed at government, charities and individuals to help create a genuine culture of giving in Britain.
People Power: the role of civil society in Britain (Meiji University 2002) based on a lecture given in Tokyo in November 2001, organised by the British Council.
The Widow's Might: how charities depend on the poor (SMF, Dec 2001), examines giving behaviour in over 1,000 donors and demonstrates that poorer givers donate a higher percentage of their income than richer givers.
Beth has traveled widely to increase her understanding of governance, the non-profit sector and philanthropy around the world. From August to October 2001 Beth held a Norfolk Fellowship, visiting Moscow, Tehran, Mumbai, Beijing and Tokyo, and in March 2003 Beth undertook a study tour of the USA, as a guest of the State Department, during which she met with politicians, policy makers and academics.
Beth is a fellow of the British-American Project, a member of the President's Advisory Council at the NCVO (National Council of Voluntary Organisations) and a member of the steering group for G-Nation (the national campaign to increase giving amongst young people).
Beth is an experienced commentator on charity sector and related public policy issues. She has provided media comment on Channel 4 News, Radio 4, regional BBC and commercial radio stations. She has also had articles published in The Daily Telegraph, Guardian Online, Third Sector, Professional Fundraising, New Statesman, Prospect and the Municipal Journal.