March 2011

Plans to introduce an £80m match funding scheme to boost philanthropy to the arts and build fundraising potential have moved a step closer following a series of round table discussions between arts leaders, secretary of state for culture Jeremy Hunt and Arts Council England chief executive Alan Davey.

UK universities are proving a big draw for philanthropists with latest figures showing a 25% increase in the number of donations to them since 2007-2008, according to the annual Ross-CASE survey, which maps higher education philanthropic income in the UK. UK universities received £506m in philanthropic cash income in 2009-10, down from £526m in 2008-9 (£57m), with 11% received from legacies.

Three organisations have come together to establish the Social Impact Analysts (SIA) Association, a pioneering international membership body designed to support the practice and profession of analysing not-for-profits with the aim of building stronger, more vibrant organisations.

Nine organisations have been selected as Strategic Partners of the Office for Civil Society (OCS), Nick Hurd, minister for Civil Society announced this week. Strategic Partners will receive a total of £8.2m over the next three years. The OCS Strategic Partners are: • ACEVO in partnership with Euclid Network and New Philanthropy Capital • Community Foundation Network in partnership with Association of Charitable Foundations •Institute of Fundraising • Locality (new name from April 2011 resulting from DTA and Bassac merger)