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A Guide to Giving opens with A framework for effective giving, with pointers and guidance to consider as you create a charitable giving strategy that reflects your own motivations, interests, circumstances and objectives. Succeeding sections provide context for your giving and explore various approaches to philanthropy:
- Charitable giving in the UK provides a snapshot of the sector and highlights recent trends in philanthropy.
- The UK charitable sector offers a brief introduction to the characteristics of, and the challenges faced by, UK charities.
- Investing in charities highlights different ways givers can support charities, including using creative financing methods, donating time and expertise, and giving through your local community foundation.
- Supporting individuals describes a variety of opportunities to support individuals, such as sponsoring an educational scholarship or mentoring a social entrepreneur who is starting a new enterprise.
- Investing in businesses with a social purpose encompasses all aspects of social investing that combine a financial and a social element. Examples include social entrepreneurship, socially responsible investment (SRI), and community development venture capital (CDVC), which invests in purely commercial businesses in deprived areas as a means of local wealth creation.
- Growing a socially responsible business addresses issues and factors that companies should consider in establishing and maintaining a corporate social responsibility programme.
- Giving tax-efficiently details a number of ways you can give money to charities and obtain tax relief on your gift.
These overviews of approaches to philanthropy are in turn supported by a series of information sheets that provide more detailed information and guidance on specific topics relevant to philanthropy and social investment. These can be accessed from the Information sheets section, or, in the online version, from relevant overview sections. For example, the information sheet on Community Investment Tax Relief (CITR), a scheme introduced by the government in 2002 to spur investment in under-resourced communities throughout the UK, is cross-referenced from the overviews of Investing in charities, Investing in businesses with a social purpose, Growing a socially responsible business and Giving tax-efficiently.
Personal stories in philanthropy bring to life the information and guidance through inspiring, real-life examples. Like the information sheets, these can be accessed within their respective sections or, in the online version, from relevant overview sections.
References also included in this Guide are a glossary, recommended resources, useful contacts, and frequently asked questions.
© Copyright 2007 Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in A Guide to Giving is current at the time of publication (October 2005), but the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) cannot guarantee its accuracy. Furthermore, there may have been subsequent changes to legislation, policy and/or to tax bands and rates. If you are considering any investment you should seek appropriate professional advice. This guide is not intended to replace professional advice on particular investments or the manner in which tax relief is applied under any scheme, and you should not rely on it for such purposes. You are responsible for your own tax and financial affairs and so should seek independent advice. ACF can not accept responsibility for the investment choices you make.
Views expressed in A Guide to Giving are not necessarily those of Philanthropy UK or the Association of Charitable Foundations.
Coutts & Co is not responsible for the content of A Guide to Giving, and the content does not constitute any advice whatsoever from Coutts & Co. The case studies and profiles within the Guide are not necessarily clients of Coutts & Co. Coutts & Co shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever arising from your reliance on any information produced in the Guide.
