New Data on UK Giving
The newly released figures for UK Giving 2009, published by NCVO and CAF, prove what we all know, that this has been a tough year for charities. Fewer people donated in the past year and total voluntary income (at £9.9 billion) is back to levels last seen in 2006/07. Yet we can take heart from the fact that charities still managed to raise nearly £10 billion during a recession. The Kent team have contributed a comment piece to the launch of the new data, based on media coverage of giving and the recession, which asks whether pessimism has fuelled panic and caused charities to give up on donors, rather than the other way round. The comment piece will be published by Professional Fundraising magazine.
CPHSJ team expands again
We are delighted to welcome two new PhD students to CPHSJ. Jon Dean will be researching youth volunteering in Britain and its consequences regarding social capital and civic attitudes. Chien Ting will be exploring the development of philanthrocapitalism in Taiwan.
New working paper examines media coverage of philanthropy in the recession
The recession has led to intense speculation about the impact on charitable giving and philanthropy, and there has been a widespread assumption that charities will suffer significantly as a result of decreased donations and increased demand for their services. This paper, co-written with Professor Gareth Morgan of Sheffield Hallam University, argues that much of the media coverage of philanthropy in a recession fails to take account of existing theory regarding the non-economic basis of most philanthropic motivations, nor of the varied nature of charitable beneficiaries, which extends well beyond the financially disadvantaged. The paper also explores known features of recessionary impacts such as variability across the sector; time lags between economic conditions and changes in donor behaviours; and factors that affect resilience, such as the possession of reserves and investment in fundraising activities. The paper concludes by discussing implications for donor fundraising strategies.
CPHSJ join ‘Charity Question Time’ panel at Labour Party conference
Beth Breeze, a researcher at CPHSJ, joined charities minister Angela Smith MP for Charity Question Time at the Labour Party conference in Brighton. The panel also included John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation and Adam Sampson, who led homelessness charity Shelter until recently. More information at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news/stories/LabourpartyconferenceinviteforcharitiesexpertatKent/2009
CPHSJ to appear at major fundraising conference alongside Sir Richard Branson, 14th October 2009
The annual ‘Raising Funds from the Rich’ conference takes place in London this Autumn. Research conducted by CPHSJ staff on raising funds from family business owners will be presented. Other speakers include leading philanthropists and philanthropy sector experts, such as Richard Branson, Martha Lane Fox and Alec Reed. More information on the programme and how to book is available at www.actionplanning.co.uk/rich.pdf
Blogging and Tweeting
We are now posting regular blogs at https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/philanthropy/ and you can follow us on Twitter at UKCPhilanthropy. These interactive sites are a great way to discuss the latest research and news, so please do join in the conversation.
Keeping in touch
If you do not wish to receive these updates from CPHSJ then please reply with ‘Unsubscribe’ in the subject line. If you want to discuss our research, explore areas of mutual interest or just say hello, then please don’t hesitate to get in contact with any of the team here at Kent, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Best wishes from all at the Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice at the University of Kent