Welcome to the Institute for Voluntary Action Research – IVAR. We are an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. From the very small that directly support the most vulnerable in their local communities, to those that work nationally – across the voluntary, public and funding sectors.
We use research to develop practical responses to the challenges faced and create opportunities for people to learn from our findings. This site is home to our bank of research and resources, providing insights that can help organisations adapt to change and make informed and confident decisions.
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Recently published
Start small
An exploratory study into making technology imaginable
and usable for small voluntary organisations.
Findings include tips and advice from small voluntary organisations on overcoming the barriers to using technology; pointers for support organisations; and things for funders to think about.
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Transforming Healthcare Together
Equipping health, care and VCSE leaders to build relationships that transform our healthcare system.
A new support offer, free to access and jointly funded by NHS England and The National Lottery Community Fund. Includes online resources, workshops and coaching delivered by The King’s Fund.
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Duty to Care?
How to ensure grant-making helps and doesn’t hinder
We believe that foundations could be making adaptations to their grant-making practices in response to the circumstances and needs of small to medium voluntary organisations.
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Blogs
04 July 2019
‘Helping small voluntary organisations unlock the power of tech’
We asked some of the funders who supported and advised our recent tech study to reflect on why they got involved.
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13 June 2019
Responsive grant-making needs a proactive strategy
Gilly Green | Research Associate
As part of our recent review of the Wellcome Trust’s Public Engagement Fund, we have been thinking about what it means to be a responsive grant maker.
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Learn more about IVAR