Category: Charity
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Why study philanthropy?
I’ve just graduated with an MA in Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent, the UK’s first and only master’s course in this subject. Studying a whole degree in philanthropy sounds a bit niche to most people. (What even is philanthropy, some people wonder. One of our lecturers says she’s been asked more than once,…
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What does generosity actually look like?
Brits are becoming less generous – at least according to the World Giving Index, described as the “world’s leading study on global generosity”. The UK has typically ranked in the top 10, but in the latest index it’s in 22nd place, its (joint) lowest spot yet. This is not a new worry. In 2021, analysts…
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Gifts: delight, obligation, poison?
Gifts are heart-warming. It feels good to be able to give something of value to someone we care about, and it feels good to receive something unexpected that signals someone has thought of us. Or… maybe not. It can also feel stressful when you’re under pressure to find the right gift. It’s awkward when you’ve…
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Power in the picture
Way back in 2007, the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations (Dochas), created a code of conduct on images and messages. It was a reaction to the somehow accepted situation of fundraisers relying on what you might call “flies in their eyes” photography. You don’t need to see an example here; if you live in…
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Fit for a king
Britain is crowning a new(ish) King next month, so we’re all being encouraged to spend a once-in-a-generation bank holiday doing something nice for each other. But the Big Help Out, which promises to “give everyone an opportunity to join in”, has already prompted concerns that it will flop, further undermining efforts to recruit and engage new volunteers.…
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Mega(phone) motivation
Youth media projects matter because they give young people “a voice”. Funders, nonprofits and facilitators emphasise this as their goal; participants celebrate it. And standard-setters expect it: a 2006 guide by the Open Society Institute, a significant early philanthropic backer of youth media in the US, says a key feature is that it “conveys the authentic…
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Royal recognition
“Well, they do a lot for charity…” It’s a common response when you ask people what purpose the British royal family still serves. For some, good causes are the monarchy’s primary purpose: according to recent research from Charities Aid Foundation, a third of Brits believe that the royals’ most important role is supporting charities. (It’s not…
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Motivations matter
People clearly like to help other people. Last year a friend posted on LinkedIn that she was looking for a mentor; she expected one or two responses – but got an astonishing 25 offers. You see it the other way round, too: mid-career professionals offering time to answer questions or advise younger people on breaking…
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“They don’t know how smart they are. You can tell them.”
Much of my work involves moulding and tweaking other people’s writing into shape. But with R and C, I never fix spelling mistakes or question confusing sentence structures. I never wince when they go off topic, never strike through nonsensical ideas. R and C are writers – nine and ten-year-old ones – who I’ve been…
How can we help 