Philanthropy grabbed the headlines recently, after announcements by US entrepreneur Warren Buffett, Microsoft's Bill Gates and Citigroup's Sandy Weill. Their actions have prompted comparisons with philanthropists in the UK. Are we less generous in the UK? Or simply less public about our giving?
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Home truths, NPC's report on adult refugees and asylum seekers is launched

21 June 2006

Home truths highlights the huge benefits of retraining refugees with professional qualifications that are in short supply, such as experienced doctors, engineers and teachers.The report also draws attention to the failings in the asylum system. Donors are introduced to numerous charities that are improving life for refugees and asylum seekers in the report.
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Food for thought on mental health, from NPC's Martin Brookes

31 May 2006

'Let's imagine you have some spare money you'd like to give to charity. Perhaps you are interested in mental health. So what's the best place to invest your money? Here's a proposition: go for lunch at Abbevilles restaurant in Clapham, south London, where you can help people improve their mental health, cut your tax bill, and have a curry all at the same time' says Martin Brookes, NPC's Head of Research, writing in The Guardian.
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Don't mind me, NPC's report on adults with mental health problems is launched

30 May 2006

Don’t mind me highlights the critical role that charities play in improving the lives of adults in the UK with mental health problems. The report outlines a host of opportunities for donors and funders to help people experiencing mental distress.
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NPC's report on young people in education, On your marks, is launched

25 April 2006

On your marks presents a map of activities of charities working alongside schools and colleges, to improve education and well-being for children. The report outlines the range of options available to donors to help them make informed choices.
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Problems achieving full-cost recovery hit the news again

5 April 2006

The problems faced by charities in recovering the full costs of delivering contracts for public service have once again been in the news. In a front page article in its 22 March issue, ThirdSector reports on a charity which is suing an NHS trust for the full cost of its service.
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Latest Giving Insights is published - NPC's quarterly newsletter

4 April 2006

The latest edition of Giving Insights - a 12 page newsletter drawing on NPC's research and advice - is now published. Post your comments, and read what others have said about the articles on our new forum!
Click here to read the current issue, to subscribe, or to post comments >>

Martin Brookes talks to the BBC about donors’ demands

31 March 2006

Are big donors are becoming more demanding? BBC World Service interviewed Martin Brookes, NPC’s Head of Research, about this and other trends in philanthropy. Brookes notes ‘a cadre of donors bringing money and the disciplines of business, to reward success, punish failure and encourage charities to do well’. He points them to ‘real nuggets; organisations doing great work’ that are becoming better at articulating their effectiveness. ‘You can articulate and measure what charities do, and if you do so, it puts you in a much better position to decide whether or not to support a charity’ says Brookes.

NPC updates its library of recommended charities

29 March 2006

There are now over 70 recommendations of effective charities available for download. These two-page fact sheets tell you all you need to know about the issue a charity addresses, its activities and how private funding can help achieve more.
Click here for our list of recommended charities >>

Philanthrocapitalism – it’s the next big thing

25 March 2006

David Rowan writing in The Times points to a ‘remarkable trend sweeping through the world of charitable giving’ led by ‘a new generation of philanthropists…taking a market conscious approach to charitable giving’.
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Say goodbye to an effective charity

24 March 2006

Funding blunders are about to kill off a charity that helps older people lead healthier, active lives.
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Gavyn Davies does the maths

09 March 2006

‘Charity is an investment like any other’ says Gavyn Davies, one of our founding trustees. Writing in The Guardian, Davies notes ‘many people have an aversion to thinking about a charitable donation as an “investment” that needs to have a high return … In fact, simply by suggesting this, I may be raising hackles.’
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A survey of wealth and philanthropy

28 February 2006

The Economist published a 16-page survey highlighting the increase in philanthropy as the number of super-rich keeps growing and how these new donors are becoming more businesslike in their giving. The survey also points to the new organisations (including NPC) being created to make a philanthropic market work better and provides an overview of corporate giving.

Research insight: A mission to complain?

16 February 2006

Age Concern England is not happy. Figures recently published by the government show that over £4 billion in unclaimed benefits does not reach the pockets of pensioners. Correct in its analysis, Age Concern England is nevertheless wrong in its approach.
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Listen up: an interview with Sibs

27 January 2006

The charity Sibs supports children and adults with disabled siblings. It was featured on the BBC Women’s Hour recently and is one of the charities recommended by NPC in its report, Ordinary lives: Disabled children and their families.
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