Blog
We feature the voices of charities, foundations and public agencies we work with, and share our take on both opportunities and challenges for the voluntary sector.
Recent blog posts
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BlogDoes Civil Society Have a Definitional Problem, Or a Leadership Moment?
Read more: Does Civil Society Have a Definitional Problem, Or a Leadership Moment?What makes an organisation part of civil society? This used to be a straightforward…
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BlogIs the Voluntary Sector Still ‘Voluntary’? The Future of Civil Society
Read more: Is the Voluntary Sector Still ‘Voluntary’? The Future of Civil SocietyVolunteering has quietly been in decline for over a decade, while paid labour in…
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BlogBetter spent? Lessons from the Foundations Spending Down
Read more: Better spent? Lessons from the Foundations Spending Downby Lara Bautista The decision to distribute all of your resources and close, or…
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BlogFunding for systems change: what Propel taught us
Read more: Funding for systems change: what Propel taught usBy Jo Brown, Deputy Director of Research, IVAR There is considerable interest right now…
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BlogLife Rafts and Gold Dust: what we can learn from 1,200 funding experiences
Read more: Life Rafts and Gold Dust: what we can learn from 1,200 funding experiencesAs we publish our 2026 Funding Experience Survey, Ben Cairns reflects on a survey…
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BlogThe Jane Hatfield Award 2026: Meet the Researchers
Read more: The Jane Hatfield Award 2026: Meet the ResearchersIVAR and Ubele are delighted to introduce the recipients of the 2026 Jane Hatfield…
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BlogDon’t just listen to us – involve us: A young person’s reflections on the National Youth Strategy
Read more: Don’t just listen to us – involve us: A young person’s reflections on the National Youth StrategyLast month, we held our final webinar which explored the National Youth Strategy and…
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BlogWhen funders join forces: How a trust and council reversed youth work decline
Read more: When funders join forces: How a trust and council reversed youth work declineHow a trust and council pooled funding, worked differently, and reversed a long-term decline…
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BlogChanging the odds: How Postcode Lottery embraced flexible funding
Read more: Changing the odds: How Postcode Lottery embraced flexible fundingPostcode Lottery’s Katherine Sellar shares how they shifted from rigid project grants to multi-year,…
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BlogFrom ‘bringing in’ to building up: shifting power in research
Read more: From ‘bringing in’ to building up: shifting power in researchWritten by Jo Brown “How do we bring in lived experience?” It’s a question I…
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BlogOpen and Trusting starts inside: an early career view
Read more: Open and Trusting starts inside: an early career viewConversations about where Open and Trusting sits strategically and how far it’s taken often happen at senior levels…
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BlogOpen, Trusting – and Equitable? What Funding Practice Still Needs to Change
Read more: Open, Trusting – and Equitable? What Funding Practice Still Needs to ChangeHow much can funders’ best intentions achieve if the structural inequalities underlying their practices remain untouched? This…