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In the last few years there has been a remarkable growth in the range and depth of charitable services that help UK-based funders and donors to give effectively. Armed with a charitable bank account or trust, givers can now deposit funds that help operational charities receive much-needed loans; invest in community development finance schemes; obtain research and guidance on where and how to support charities; become involved as a venture philanthropist or a volunteer consultant in building up the capacity of charities to deliver results; or pool resources with other donors.
Because many of these options have only become available in recent times, many givers are not aware of their existence. Responding to the need for a wider understanding of the challenges and rewards of effective giving, three leading charitable foundations (The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Gatsby Foundation, and the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales) funded the Philanthropy UK project in 2001. The project's director, Theresa Lloyd, produced the first edition of A Guide to Giving in 2003. This was a tremendous step forward, providing a single volume guide to giving in the UK for the first time.
This second edition builds on that work, revising the text in the light of new developments and information, but also including many new features. We are pleased to introduce with this edition a framework for effective giving, which provides a step-by-step process for creating a charitable giving strategy that reflects givers' own motivations, interests, circumstances and objectives. The revised Guide also benefits from guest contributions from leading organisations and individuals, who share their expertise though topical overviews and opinion pieces. In addition, a series of personal profiles of leading philanthropists brings to life the information and guidance through inspiring, real-life examples.
To ensure wide dissemination and availability, the Guide is available free of charge in an interactive online version and as a downloadable document, both of which may be accessed at www.philanthropyuk.org/AGuideToGiving. Hard copies are also available for a small fee.
The aim of the Guide is to provide givers with stimulus and food for thought, as well as to introduce the charitable services that exist to serve their needs. It is not to dictate, or to coerce. The right to act according to personal aims and objectives is a precious freedom that distinguishes private giving from tax-funded public services. At the same time, ill-informed giving can give rise to adverse consequences!
A Guide to Giving, second edition owes a debt of gratitude to the unstinting efforts of many people and organisations, who have given their time as contributors and in other ways. Our thanks are given in more detailed form below. Over and above this, we offer particular thanks for the generous support of Coutts, without whom this new edition would not have been possible.
We hope that A Guide to Giving proves to be a valuable resource for all givers, and we encourage readers to contact us with feedback and suggestions for future editions.
David Carrington
Chair
Philanthropy UK Editorial Board
© 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.
