Philanthropy’s one-stop shop

Newcomers to the philanthropy sector in the UK are quick to comment that there are a wealth of organisations doing quite similar work. Wouldn’t it be better if there was more collaboration and joint practice in what is still a relatively small market for philanthropy advice?

Well, last month saw the launch of Philanthropy Impact—the culmination of a year’s planning to address the fragmented marketplace. Philanthropy Impact is the merger of three different entities, all seeking to encourage and inspire giving in this country through different mediums: Philanthropy UK, EAPG and the Philanthropy Advisors Forum (PAF).  NPC has a vested interest in the success of this organisation: having researched the philanthropy advice market and spotted the need for an informal network of practitioners to share and discuss best practice, NPC founded PAF in 2010. PAF has been a great success as a network of private banks, legal firms, accountants, philanthropy specialists and industry bodies, holding regular meetings often attended by government ministers keen to understand the views of philanthropists via their advisors.

Our other interest is via the work we’ve been doing with Philanthropy UK to develop their website. As part of this support, we created an innovative tool, The Giving Navigator, to help potential donors and advisors identify the most suitable giving option  for each individual’s needs. The navigator is based on a five-stage framework for effective giving, which we have adapted from NPC’s ten-year experience of working with a wide range of funders and charities. We have accumulated the key questions and challenges that funders face, whether they are new to giving, looking for more focus and direction for an established trust, seeking best practice in measuring their success, or wanting to engage with social investment for the first time.

There is plenty of need for a one-stop shop for all things philanthropy—an independent platform where anyone can access the latest news in the sector, download published reports from a host of organisations, attend events to build knowledge and networks, read inspirational stories of other philanthropists, and discover who to contact for specific advice. By bringing these three organisations together, Philanthropy Impact should be an invaluable resource for newcomers and old hands alike. We wish it every success.