Category Archives: Uncategorized

The giving tax: what do we actually know?

In the current row about charities and tax, it’s worth being clear about what is known and what isn’t. Here’s the relevant evidence we’ve encountered. Income Total income of UK charities £37bn Source:NCVO Almanac Income of UK charities from individuals … Continue reading

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How can innovative organisations produce evidence of their impact?

This article was first published by the Society of Impact Assessment Analysts ‘If something isn’t working, do something else’, goes the saying. Though it sounds obvious, we often don’t follow this advice. Many of the social and environmental issues we’ve … Continue reading

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What the gov’t should do about the charity tax row

Part 1: Try to regain some credibility in this debate 1. Make HMRC release the relevant donor data Whatever the rights & wrongs in the debate, sentiment is inflamed by the fact that the charity sector can’t even size the … Continue reading

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The government’s raid on giving makes no sense

The UK government recently announced that it would cap tax relief on charitable giving. The surprise move has met a furious response, and makes no sense whichever way it’s intended. It’s a shame, because the charitable world has plenty of … Continue reading

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Giving Evidence: advice on giving, based on evidence

Charities are not equally good. Neither are techniques for finding and supporting them. Giving Evidence advises donors – individuals, families, foundations, companies, governments – on the ways of giving which will achieve the best ‘returns’, by a fanatical devotion to … Continue reading

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Should You Donate to Sport Relief?

This article first appeared in Huffington Post This weekend, Sport Relief is running masses of activities this weekend to raise money for charity. But not all charities are the same. So is Sport Relief a good one?  Yes. Before we get into … Continue reading

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Charities should have open, public AGMs

A publicly listed company must hold a meeting at least annually which any shareholder can attend. Often press and industry analysts attend too. The directors account for their decisions and performance, and any shareholder can ask a question. Thus the … Continue reading

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The popular fetish of the small

The Economist this week has an article and data showing the folly of the popular affection for small companies. It shows that productivity* per employee is markedly higher in large companies than small ones for two reasons: employees in large … Continue reading

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It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way That You Give It

It Ain’t What You Give, It’s The Way That You Give It: launches March 27th 2012 ‘The Freakonomics of the charity world – but with better cartoons’ – Martin Houghton-Brown, Chief Executive, Missing People ‘Great advice: inspiring, entertaining and much-needed’ – James … Continue reading

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Government fund scores new low for charitable funding

Forty three failures for every success. Is the government’s Social Action Fund – which ostensibly helps charities – trying to challenge the National Lottery for startling low probabilities? It would be funny if only it weren’t tragic and irresponsible. And … Continue reading

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