Enabling giving based on sound evidence
We help donors — individuals, families, foundations, companies and governments — give more effectively, through advice, research and campaigning.
What we do: Evidence-based philanthropy
Consulting (advisory)
We find strong charities for clients to fund, review their existing strategies, and help them to build new programmes.
Read our clients’ views →
Commissioned research
Donors and funders commission us to produce research to inform giving and practices. It is published. This includes the Foundation Practice Rating.
See our publications →
Campaigning (talks & press)
Giving Evidence’s Director Caroline Fiennes speaks and writes widely in the press and at events, to help donors and funders to give well.
See press coverage →Track record
We’ve advised many donors and funders in many countries on many issues — here are some examples:
“Caroline and the Giving Evidence team immediately understood what I was trying to achieve in terms of better use of research in this sector — and not all philanthropy advisors did.”
“Caroline understood that we needed a systematic review before I had even heard of them! Giving Evidence did a great job of scoping the task and managing the research smoothly.”
“Caroline Fiennes is a great source of advice about charitable giving. She helped Eurostar become effective very rapidly.”
“Caroline very quickly got the measure of ICG and the respect of our team. Her work was timely, insightful, clear and professional.”
“Caroline Fiennes provided excellent advice to the ERM Foundation. She has a strong understanding of philanthropy and how it is best done in a corporate context.”
“We really learnt a lot from Caroline during this work. She moved us forward a lot, making our plans clearer and better.”
“Giving Evidence’s team rapidly understood Optimus Foundation’s work and model, and… our team also benefited from their knowledge and experience – plus they made introductions to other funders and researchers.”
“Giving Evidence brought deep expertise, and relevant experts, to the design and execution of both these projects. It ran a complex process smoothly and professionally.”
“Working with Giving Evidence helped us to upgrade and professionalise our charitable giving. We benefited from Giving Evidence team’s many years in the field of effective social change.”
“Caroline and the Giving Evidence team immediately understood what I was trying to achieve in terms of better use of research in this sector — and not all philanthropy advisors did.”
“Caroline understood that we needed a systematic review before I had even heard of them! Giving Evidence did a great job of scoping the task and managing the research smoothly.”
“Caroline Fiennes is a great source of advice about charitable giving. She helped Eurostar become effective very rapidly.”
“Caroline very quickly got the measure of ICG and the respect of our team. Her work was timely, insightful, clear and professional.”
“Caroline Fiennes provided excellent advice to the ERM Foundation. She has a strong understanding of philanthropy and how it is best done in a corporate context.”
“We really learnt a lot from Caroline during this work. She moved us forward a lot, making our plans clearer and better.”
“Giving Evidence’s team rapidly understood Optimus Foundation’s work and model, and… our team also benefited from their knowledge and experience – plus they made introductions to other funders and researchers.”
“Giving Evidence brought deep expertise, and relevant experts, to the design and execution of both these projects. It ran a complex process smoothly and professionally.”
“Working with Giving Evidence helped us to upgrade and professionalise our charitable giving. We benefited from Giving Evidence team’s many years in the field of effective social change.”
Each name links to the coverage on our site
Who we are
Giving Evidence helps donors to maximise their effectiveness by making their giving based on sound evidence. Our team has worked across sectors and countries, combining deep research skills with experience in both funders and operational charities.
Meet the team →Latest insights
Recent research and talks
It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way That You Give It
A guide to charitable giving: how charities really work; how to help them; how to not hinder them — “the Freakonomics of the charity world, with better cartoons.”
Buy the book