Dec 2007: Issue 31

Dec2007Issue31

The Big Give founder Alec Reed offers donors his top tips for effective giving. ©Philanthropy UK/Lisa Barnard

Welcome to the latest issue of the Philanthropy UK Newsletter. We hope that 2007 has been a rewarding year for all our readers, and on behalf of the Editorial Board, I wish you a vibrant and philanthropic 2008! We open this issue with our own seasonal appeal by urging our readers to make becoming an effective giver one of your New Year’s resolutions. We also offer some major gift ideas for the holiday season.

Welcome

Recent circumstances surrounding two corporately supported foundations have highlighted both the impact that such corporate philanthropy can have, and the risks it poses. Our Spotlight on corporate foundations explores the unique risks they face, the question of independence, and how best they can meet these challenges.

Elsewhere, we are delighted to welcome Melissa Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, who will be penning a new regular column, Letter from America.

The events reports, courtesy of Alliance magazine, will continue to be published in the online version of the Newsletter.

As always, we are especially grateful to all our guest contributors, whose efforts continue to enrich these pages. We thank our readers for your support, and urge you to engage further with us. If you would like to comment on this issue, or to contribute an original article, please contact me at editor@philanthropyuk.org.

Best wishes,

Susan Mackenzie: editor

The top five: tips for giving

You get what you give

In this regular column we invite influential individuals to contribute their ‘top five tips’ for giving.

Seasonal giving

Top tips for the giving season

Giving effectively means different things to all of us and Philanthropy UK has regularly sought the insights of an eclectic range of influential individuals, who have contributed their advice in...

Generous giving: major gift ideas for the holidays

Philanthropy UK offers you a selection of seasonal gift ideas that last longer than the latest gadget. Unique and meaningful festive gifts can be tantalisingly hard to find, and we have...

A resolution for giving

Holiday cheer, goats and reindeer – ‘tis the season of the charity gift appeal.

Spotlight: corporate foundations

SMART Company research reveals foundation models

Research published earlier this year by The SMART Company revealed the diversity of corporate foundations in terms of their role and activity, and identified three primary foundation models.

editorial: Toward a better model of corporate foundations

There has been increasing recognition in recent years that the benefits a trust or foundation can bring go beyond just the monetary value of their grant-making, and of the original philanthropic...

Corporate foundations: from benevolence to philanthropy

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) continues to move up the board room agenda, one area of CSR – community investment – continues to lag behind. Corporate giving stubbornly...

Bed-Rock of the Northeast

It is salutary to recall that only at the beginning of the year, Northern Rock was the toast of the City for its commercial acumen. Nobody, they say, could have predicted this turn of events and...

Giving news

Sector voices strong reaction to call for scrutiny of charities

A call for a new independent body to scrutinise charities’ performance and effectiveness drew a mixed reaction from across the sector. It has also been dismissed by Government.

Round-up of the latest philanthropy research

Like waiting for a bus, there’s been little new research on UK philanthropy for ages and then four come along together.

Proactive philanthropy gets bigger with new project-based website

“Intelligent” giving is the motivation behind Alec Reed’s newest philanthropic venture, The Big Give, a website that aims to encourage high-net-worth (HNW) philanthropy and give...

Pilotlight expands across UK

After helping over 100 small charities to expand in London, venture philanthropy charity Pilotlight is now furthering its own expansion plans. Over the next three years it wants to have a much...

Newspaper appeals: more than just the money

Newspapers are powerful fundraisers: Christmas Appeals have raised millions of pounds for charities and charities compete to become a paper’s named beneficiary. But increasingly the value...

Ethical consumers demand more

Ethical finance needs to appeal to a wider audience, according to a new report by the New Economics Foundation (nef). Going Green?

Centre of Excellence first for UK philanthropy research

The UK’s first independent, multidisciplinary, and academically based Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy has now been established, with three programmes and a hub receiving joint...

Events and programmes

Reports from Alliance magazine

The Philanthropy UK Newsletter is grateful to Alliance magazine for its permission to reproduce the following summaries of its event reports. The full reports can be accessed at www....

Philanthropy UK interview

John Low, Chief Executive, CAF

Engineering Change An electronic engineer by training, John Low has spent most of his career in the private sector. His work, much of it international, focused on change management: as he...

Influential Reader

Charlie McConnell

Our ‘influential reader’ in this edition is Charlie McConnell, chief executive of the Carnegie UK Trust.

Letter From America

Giving in the USA

This new editorial will feature an American perspective on recent trends and topical issues in philanthropy. We are delighted to welcome new columnist Melissa Berman of Rockefeller...

What's new in social investment

A brief round-up of developments from the social investment world

Prepared by the UK Social Investment Forum Unity Trust Bank launches grant bridging funding facility Unity Trust, the specialist third sector bank, is now offering short term loans for...

Notices

Beyond Success: Building a personal, financial and philanthropic legacy

Beyond Success is a guide that aims to assist individuals with the achievement of a meaningful and lasting financial, philanthropic, and generational family legacy. The author combines his personal...

Inspired Philanthropy: Your step-by-step guide to creating a giving plan and leaving a legacy

The third edition of Gary’s classic book aims to show readers how to align and integrate their values, passions, and dreams for their communities and families into their giving plans. Inspired...

Handbook on Responsible Investment across Asset Classes

This handbook seeks to catalyse growth in responsible investment across asset classes. It is meant to help investors incorporate responsible methods into their investment mandate; identify and...

International Taxation of Philanthropy

This book, based on Dr. Koele's PhD dissertation, addresses the complex international tax barriers facing philanthropic organisations. The book begins by defining the scope of the study including...

European Venture Philanthropy Directory 2007/08

This 3rd edition of the EVPA directory is over twice the size of earlier editions, reflecting the growth in models of philanthropy that combine finance and business consulting. The purpose of...

A life less ordinary: People with autism, a guide for donors & funders

New Philanthropy Capital’s recently published report A life less ordinary explores the issues surrounding autism and the lives of the people it affects. The report suggests practical ways...

Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance Issues into Institutional Investment: a Handbook for Colleges and Universities

The purpose of this handbook is to assist colleges and universities in implementing investment policies that consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. It discusses the four...

Green philanthropy: funding charity solutions to environmental problems

Less than 2% of UK charitable grants and less than 5% of private donations are currently allocated to environmental charities. This report suggests that the barriers to ‘green philanthropy...

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits

An innovative guide to how great non-profits achieve extraordinary social impact, based on case studies of twelve high-performing charities. The authors’ central question - what makes great non...

Book Reviews

Giving: How each of us can change the world

It is always good to declare one’s biases so I confess that I picked up this book expecting to find it weak on substance and, at best, inadequate. Scathing reviews of the book helpfully...

The Billionaire who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney secretly made and gave away a fortune

Biographies of philanthropists generally tend to fall into one of two categories. The dullest, and unfortunately the most common, are those that are more hagiography than biography, in which the...

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Dec 2007: Issue 31

Welcome

The top five: tips for giving

You get what you give

Seasonal giving

Top tips for the giving season

Generous giving: major gift ideas for the holidays

A resolution for giving

Spotlight: corporate foundations

SMART Company research reveals foundation models

editorial: Toward a better model of corporate foundations

Corporate foundations: from benevolence to philanthropy

Bed-Rock of the Northeast

Giving news

Sector voices strong reaction to call for scrutiny of charities

Round-up of the latest philanthropy research

Proactive philanthropy gets bigger with new project-based website

Pilotlight expands across UK

Newspaper appeals: more than just the money

Ethical consumers demand more

Centre of Excellence first for UK philanthropy research

Events and programmes

Reports from Alliance magazine

Philanthropy UK interview

John Low, Chief Executive, CAF

Influential Reader

Charlie McConnell

Letter From America

Giving in the USA

What's new in social investment

A brief round-up of developments from the social investment world

Notices

Beyond Success: Building a personal, financial and philanthropic legacy

Inspired Philanthropy: Your step-by-step guide to creating a giving plan and leaving a legacy

Handbook on Responsible Investment across Asset Classes

International Taxation of Philanthropy

European Venture Philanthropy Directory 2007/08

A life less ordinary: People with autism, a guide for donors & funders

Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance Issues into Institutional Investment: a Handbook for Colleges and Universities

Green philanthropy: funding charity solutions to environmental problems

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits

Book Reviews

Giving: How each of us can change the world

The Billionaire who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney secretly made and gave away a fortune

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