BIVAR Seminar 5 - Funders, philanthropy and engagement
What are the differences between traditional forms of philanthropy and ‘new’ philanthropy? How do we balance a drive toward outcomes funding with a philanthropic appetite for risk? Is philanthropy a social act or simply an economic transaction?
These were some of the questions raised by Ben Cairns (IVAR) and Beth Breeze (Centre for Philanthropy, University of Kent) at the BIVAR seminar on 9th June in London. Ben provided an organisational perspective on philanthropy – ‘funding plus’, while Beth talked from an individual perspective – ‘donor plus’.
Ben Cairns: High engagement funding - the benefits and challenges for grant makers and recipients. The practice within charitable grant-making bodies of doing more than just giving grants has a long history. However, it is only in the last decade that it has received any sustained attention from researchers and other interested parties. Ben presented findings from a twelve month IVAR study into models of high engagement funding. He explored the principal benefits, challenges and risks of different approaches from the perspectives of grantmakers and grant recipients. IVAR’s findings suggest that, in the current climate, trusts and foundations need to think carefully and responsibly about using their multiple assets to maximum effect.
Beth Breeze: High engagement donors - more than money. Beth presented findings from a series of studies she has undertaken, exploring the practice and purpose of philanthropy amongst the wealthier end of UK society. Beth's research explores the causes that appeal to richer givers, how they decide how much to give, their preferred methods of giving, and their expectations for relationships with beneficiaries. These findings were illustrated using an alliterative typology – donor plus, donor paranoid, donor powerful, donor pleasure and donor passionate.
Speakers
Ben Cairns is the Director of the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) and a Visiting Fellow of Birkbeck, University of London. Ben has 20 years’ experience of working in and around voluntary and community organisations, as a volunteer, trustee, manager and researcher. He has written and edited publications on volunteering, quality systems and governance, and has published in a range of academic journals, including Policy & Politics, Social Policy & Administration and Nonprofit Management & Leadership.
Beth Breeze is a co-founder of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent and also works within the ESRC Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy. She began her career as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity, and has spent a decade working in a variety of fundraising, research and charity management roles, most recently as deputy director at the Institute for Philanthropy.
The 2010/2011 BIVAR seminar series has now ended. If you would like to receive information about the 2011/2012 series which starts Autumn 2011, please email your contact details and key interests in the sector to diana@ivar.org.uk