Giving Thought
125 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 5 ratingsCharities Aid Foundation's Giving Thought podcast explored the big issues, themes and news stories relating to philanthropy and the work of civil society.
This podcast is no longer produced.
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Episodes
Next Gen Philanthropy, with Sharna Goldseker & Michael Moody
August 17, 2021 06:41 - 56 minutes - 32.4 MBIn this episode we talk to Sharna Goldseker and Michael Moody about their book Generation Impact: How Next Gen Donors are Revolutionizing Giving, which is now available in an updated and expanded 2nd edition. Including: In what ways are Next Gen donors genuinely different from previous generations? Do Next Gen donors give to significantly different causes than their parents’ generation, or simply give to the same causes but in different ways? Are Next Gen donors more likely to adopt...
Philanthropy, Domestic Violence & Partnering with the Public Sector, with Stelio Stefanou
August 03, 2021 07:22 - 47 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode we talk to Stelio Stefanou OBE, philanthropist and Founder of the For Baby’s Sake Trust (FBST) - a charity which focuses on working with parents to address the impact of domestic violence on the early years development of children. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed: Is “philanthropist” a helpful or unhelpful word? How does a business background shape approaches to philanthropy? Why is it important to recognise that success in business doesn’t automatically...
Modern Grantmaking, with Gemma Bull & Tom Steinberg
July 13, 2021 05:53 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBIn this episode Rhod sat down with Gemma Bull and Tom Steinberg, authors of new book "Modern Grantmaking: A Guide for Funders Who Believe Better is Possible". In a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed: Humility & Funder Ego Why is humility such a key part of Modern Grantmaking? Is part of the problem that traditionally our idea of what it means to be “good at grantmaking” has revolved around attributing genius to funders and grantmakers in terms of their choices/program design, r...
Philanthropy, Racial Justice & Funding Grassroots Organizing, with Lori Bezahler
June 29, 2021 05:42 - 55 minutes - 31.6 MBIn this episode we're joined by Lori Bezahler, President of the Edward W. Hazen Foundation, to discuss the role of philanthropy in supporting racial justice and funding grassroots organizing or social movements. Including: Racial Justice Is racial injustice such a big/cross-cutting issues that it should not be seen as a cause area, but rather as something that is the responsibility of ALL philanthropic funders and nonprofits? What does this mean in practice re racial justice issues?...
Poverty, Participation & The Pandemic, with Jo Kerr & Sonya Ruparel
June 15, 2021 07:45 - 53 minutes - 30.6 MBIn this episode we talk to Jo Kerr and Sonya Ruparel, from UK charity Turn2Us, about poverty, participation and the impact of the pandemic. Including: Impact of Covid Pandemic How has the Covid 19 pandemic affected Turn 2 Us, and the people and communities the charity serves? What are the biggest challenges for the organisation over the coming months and longer-term post-pandemic? Digital Transformation Has the necessity to adapt due to the pandemic accelerated Turn2Us’s digital a...
Participatory grantmaking, with Meg Massey & Hannah Paterson
June 01, 2021 05:50 - 57 minutes - 32.8 MBIn this episode we talk participatory approaches in philanthropy and social investment, with Meg Massey, co-author of “Letting Go: How Philanthropists and Impact Investors Can Do More Good by Giving Up Control” and Hannah Paterson, Senior Portfolio Manager at the National Lottery Community Fund. Including: There is a growing amount of focus on participatory approaches to grantmaking at the moment as part of the solution to the criticisms being levelled at philanthropy. How much of the r...
Silicon Valley, Billionaires & Philanthropy, with Teddy Schleifer
May 18, 2021 06:08 - 51 minutes - 29.3 MBOn this episode we talk to Teddy Schleifer, Senior Reporter, Money & Influence at Recode (part of the Vox Media group), about billionaires, Silicon Valley and philanthropy. Including: Silicon Valley Philanthropy Do most tech billionaires see their wealth as “self-made”, or do they recognise any sense of societal debt, luck etc? How does this shape their giving? How does the wider public view the philanthropy of modern tech billionaires? Are tech donors particularly prone to solutionism...
Philanthropy in Brazil during the pandemic, with Denis Mizne
May 04, 2021 07:02 - 41 minutes - 23.8 MBIn this episode we talk to Denis Mizne, CEO of Lemann Foundation - Brazil’s largest educational funder – about philanthropy in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lemann Foundation’s pivot to supporting vaccine trials in the country. Including: Vaccination How and why did Lemann Foundation get involved in Covid vaccine trials? How does this fit with the foundations normal focus on education and leadership, and will it result in any shift of focus longer-term? Is there a danger...
Why Civil Society Matters More Than Ever, with Andy Haldane (and Neil Heslop)
April 20, 2021 06:01 - 58 minutes - 33.7 MBIn this episode we talk to Andy Haldane, Chief Economist of the Bank of England about his long-standing interest in civil society, why he thinks it is so important yet undervalued, and what sort of challenges and opportunities the coming years may bring. We also have some analysis and additional insight from CAF CEO Neil Heslop. Including: The economy and charitable giving If the UK economy is like a “coiled spring”, and once lockdown measures are relaxed we will see a significant b...
Technology, Philanthropy & Civil Society, with Nanjira Sambuli
April 06, 2021 06:06 - 50 minutes - 28.7 MBIn this episode we talk to Nanjira Sambuli about technology, philanthropy and civil society. Nanjira is a researcher, policy analyst and advocacy strategist based in Nairobi, Kenya and in a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion we touched on: Digital civil society Is there any meaningful distinction between “civil society” and “digital civil society” now? I.e. is technology no longer something that should be seen as a cause area or a tool, but a cross-cutting factor that affects all CSO...
Reinventing Social Change, with Nell Edgington
March 23, 2021 07:50 - 44 minutes - 25.3 MBIn this episode we talk to Nell Edgington, President of non-profit consultancy Social Velocity, about her new book “Reinventing Social Change: Embrace Abundance to Create a Healthier and More Equitable World”. We discuss: What is the book about, who should read it and what should they do as a result? Why does a scarcity mind-set affect so many donors and funders? Is this particular to philanthropy? Why is the “overhead myth” so prevalent, and why is it so problematic? Are there signs ...
History & Philanthropy, with Professor Sir David Cannadine
March 09, 2021 06:58 - 55 minutes - 31.6 MBIn this episode we talk to Professor Sir David Cannadine about history, philanthropy and his forthcoming book on the history of the Ford Foundation. Among David’s many public roles he is Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University, President of the British Academy, Chair of Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery and a Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation; and in a wide ranging conversation we discuss: Involvement in philanthropy: What insights has involvement with many charitie...
Sport, Philanthropy & Civil Society
February 23, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 36.4 MBIn this episode we look at the relationship between sport, philanthropy and civil society through history and up to the present day. Including: Sportspeople as donors Big name examples of sportspeople who give generously: David Beckham, Roger Federer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi What drives this high-profile giving? Altruism, or brand-management/PR? Lance Armstrong and the potential risks of making philanthropy over-reliant on the individual Does the fact th...
Mutual Aid, Charity & Philanthropy
February 09, 2021 07:20 - 39 minutes - 22.5 MBIn this episode we explore mutual aid: what is it, why is there so much interest in it right now and how does it relate to charity and philanthropy? Including: Defining the distinction between mutual aid and charity William Beveridge’s thoughts on mutual aid Peter Kropotkin and mutual aid as a fundamental element of human nature How does mutual aid relate to notions of solidarity and class identity? Why has mutual aid historically been so important for marginalised groups such as im...
MacKenzie Scott & the Reimagining of Philanthropy
January 26, 2021 07:27 - 47 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode we take a look at the philanthropic giving of MacKenzie Scott (former wife of Jeff Bezos), who has garnered a great deal of attention and praise for the scale, pace and approach of her philanthropy. We ask: what are the key aspects of received wisdom about giving that she is rejecting? And will this lead to wider changes in how big money philanthropy works in future? Including: -Rejecting the myth of the "self-made billionaire", in favour of recognition that luck, privilege...
Philanthropy & Democracy
January 12, 2021 07:22 - 56 minutes - 32.4 MBIn this episode we unpick the complex relationship between philanthropy and democracy. Does philanthropy undermine democracy, or strengthen it? Do we need to make philanthropy itself more democratic? And if so, how? Including: Does philanthropy automatically introduce a “plutocratic bias” into public discourse and policy? Is lack of transparency a particular issue? Does the trend towards using structures like LLCs exacerbate this problem? Does the ability of individuals at any level o...
2021 Predictions for Philanthropy & Civil Society
December 22, 2020 07:30 - 55 minutes - 31.5 MBIn this episode, at the end of a tumultuous and unpredictable year, we attempt (wisely or not!) to give some predictions for what 2021 might bring... ECONOMIC DOWNTURN Impact of Pandemic & Brexit: more demand, charity finances hit, less giving? Charity closures/mergers? Reimagining resilience? Political Division Ongoing division Ongoing politicisation of charity/culture wars Closing space for civil society Foreign funding restrictions Nationalism/Globalism/Localism ...
Islamic Giving in a Digital World, with Iqbal Nasim
December 08, 2020 07:32 - 55 minutes - 31.6 MBIn this episode we talk to Iqbal Nasim, CEO of the National Zakat Foundation, about Islamic giving and using technology to transform the way Zakat works. Including: What is Zakat and how does it fit within Islamic teaching? What does Islamic teaching say about how Zakat is to be given? (i.e. are there specific causes, should it be anonymous etc?) Is Zakat the primary focus of giving for most Muslims, or do many give in other ways too? What is Sadaqa, and how does it relate to Zakat? ...
Distributed Leadership, Movement Building & Mass Giving, with Asha Curran
November 24, 2020 07:14 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBIn this episode we talk to Asha Curran, CEO of Giving Tuesday - ahead of this year’s event on Tuesday 2nd December -about distributed leadership, movement building and the importance of mass giving. Including: Decentralisation & Social Movements What is the key appeal of networked movements? Do people believe they are more effective (particularly when it comes to huge global challenges that might require radical solutions, like the climate crisis and racial inequality/injustice) or is it ...
Philanthropy from Aristotle to Zuckerberg, with Paul Vallely
November 10, 2020 06:55 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBIn this episode we talk to Paul Vallely, author of Philanthropy: From Aristotle to Zuckerberg about his new book and what we can learn from history that can help inform our understanding of modern philanthropy and our thinking about where it should go in the future. Including: What value does a historical perspective bring? Would people working in philanthropy/civil society would benefit from more historical perspective? What is the fundamental distinction between the Greco-Roman tradit...
DVD Extra: Louise Pulford from SIX poses some questions to Rhod
October 27, 2020 07:28 - 19 minutes - 11.3 MBIn this bonus DVD extra mini-episode, Louise Pulford - CEO of the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX) - turns the table on our host, Rhod Davies, and asks him for his thoughts on key trends affecting philanthropy now and post-pandemic.
The Current and Future State of Philanthropy, with Louise Pulford, Josiane Smith & Dame Julia Unwin
October 27, 2020 07:13 - 1 hour - 45.3 MBIn this episode, we talk to Louise Pulford, Josiane Smith and Dame Julia Unwin about the findings from a new global horizon scan by the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), looking at the challenges and opportunities facing philanthropy post-Covid. In a wide-ranging conversation we discussed: How many trends in philanthropic funding we are seeing during the pandemic will lead to longer-term changes? How can we be more intentional about pursuing those we want to see? How has the pandemic acce...
New Restrictions on Philanthropy & Civil Society in India: the FCRA 2020, with Ingrid Srinath
October 13, 2020 06:03 - 57 minutes - 32.9 MBIn this episode we talk to Ingrid Srinath, Director of the Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy at Ashoka University about philanthropy and civil society in India and the impact of new restrictions have come in as part of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2020 (FCRA 2020). (Disclaimer: the views expressed are Ingrid’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer, or of CAF). We discussed: The FCRA 2020 What is the FCRA 2020? Why are CSOs in India concerned about ...
Digital Civil Society: Challenges & Opportunties, with Lucy Bernholz
September 29, 2020 05:55 - 1 hour - 43 MBIn this episode we talk to Lucy Bernholz, Director of the Digital Civil Society Lab at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy & Civil Society (Stanford PACS) about how technology is reshaping civil society and the challenges and opportunities this will bring. Including: Digital civil society Is there any meaningful distinction between “civil society” and “digital civil society” now? Has the current period of enforced digitisation as a consequence of the COVID pandemic led to m...
Funding Social Movements, with Regan Ralph
September 15, 2020 06:00 - 1 hour - 38 MBIn this episode we talk to Regan Ralph, President and CEO of the Fund for Global Human Rights, about her experience of funding right-based movements around the world and what she has learned about the challenges and opportunities of funding social movements through philanthropy. Including: What does philanthropic funding for social movements look like? i.e. what are the various elements of an overall movement that can be funded- e.g. grassroots organising/movement building, policy work, adv...
Charitable Legacy Giving, with Rob Cope
September 01, 2020 07:07 - 53 minutes - 30.4 MBIn this episode we chat to Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, about charitable legacy gifts and legacy fundraising: what they are, what role they play in the overall charity landscape and how they have changed during the COVID pandemic. Including How big a part of the landscape for charitable giving in the UK are legacies? How has this changed over time? If legacies have been a growth area in recent years (as many figures suggest), why is this? Is there greater awareness, more fund...
European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 4 - Carola Carazzone
July 31, 2020 05:56 - 48 minutes - 28 MBIn this episode - the fourth in our mini-series on “European philanthropy during and after COVID” – we speak to Carola Carazzone, Secretary General of Assifero, about philanthropy in Italy and beyond. Including What is the history and current context for philanthropy in Italy? How does this differ from the cultures, histories and legal/policy environments for philanthropy in other places across Europe? Are there commonalties? I.e. is it meaningful to talk about “European philanthropy”?...
European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 3 - Julie Broome
July 28, 2020 07:57 - 53 minutes - 30.5 MBIn this episode - the third in our mini-series on “European philanthropy during and after COVID” – we talk to Julie Broome, Director of the Ariadne network about philanthropic funding for social change and rights issues now and in the future. Including: What is social change funding? What are its particular features? Is it limited to a niche subset of funders, or something that all can do to some extent? What is the history and current landscape for social change and rights-focussed phi...
European Philanthropy during and after COVID Part 2: James Magowan
July 17, 2020 05:59 - 42 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode - the second in our mini-series on “European philanthropy during and after COVID” – we talk to James Magowan from The European Community Foundation Initiative about the unique role of Community Foundations (CF) in the pandemic response and beyond. Including What is ECFI and what does it do? What is the history and current landscape for CFs across Europe? How do the cultures, histories and legal/policy environments for philanthropy vary across Europe? How does this affect...
European Philanthropy during & after COVID Part 1: Max von Abendroth & Rosa Gallego
July 14, 2020 06:14 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBThis episode kicks off a mini-series on European philanthropy during and after COVID-19 pandemic, exploring how philanthropic funders have responded to the crisis and how it might affect philanthropy longer term. Our first conversation is with Max von Abendroth, Director of DAFNE, and Rosa Gallego, Director of International Relations at the Spanish Association of Foundations. In a wide-ranging chat we covered many fascinating topics including: The rich and varied history of philanthropy...
Developing the UK's culture of philanthropy, with Matthew Bowcock & Cath Dovey
June 30, 2020 08:07 - 49 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this episode we talk to Matthew Bowcock and Cath Dovey, founders of the Beacon Collaborative, about developing the UK’s culture of philanthropy both pre- and post-Covid. Including What is the Beacon Collaborative? What was the UK culture of philanthropy like pre-Covid? How does this perhaps differ from the culture in other countries (e.g. the US?) What do we know about the barriers that prevent more wealthy people giving? What has the response from wealthy philanthropists to the ...
Using film to tell charity stories, with Simon Burton
June 16, 2020 06:22 - 45 minutes - 25.9 MBIn this episode we talk to Simon Burton, founder and CEO of the Charity Film Awards, about how charities can use film to portray and amplify their work. Including: -What is the aim of the Charity Film Awards and how did it come about? -In what interesting ways have charity entrants to the competition been using video? -Why is storytelling important for charities? -Positive vs negative representations of charities and the people they serve: do upbeat messages work? Or are tragic i...
The Symbolic and Social Power of Charity - with Jon Dean
June 02, 2020 06:13 - 57 minutes - 33.1 MBIn episode 77 we talk to Jon Dean, Senior Lecturer in Politics & Sociology at Sheffield Hallam University, about his new book The Good Glow: Charity and the Symbolic Power of Doing Good. Including: What role does the way in which our charitable actions are viewed by others play in shaping our giving? Is the “warm glow” of giving always dependent on one’s acts being visible to others, or can it be entirely personal? Does the symbolic power of giving diminish if others are aware of ho...
Delusional Altruism, with Kris Putnam-Walkerly
May 19, 2020 06:01 - 47 minutes - 27.4 MBIn episode 76 we talk to global philanthropy expert Kris Putnam-Walkerly about her new book “Delusional Altruism”, and about how philanthropists and funders are being affected by - and responding to - the COVID-19 pandemic. Including: What is “delusional altruism”? Why does a scarcity mind-set affect so many donors and funders? Is this particular to philanthropy? Why is the “overhead myth” so prevalent, and why is it so problematic? Are there signs that funders are changing their ...
Philanthropy, Civil Society & Covid-19: What now, what next?
May 06, 2020 06:25 - 36 minutes - 20.7 MBIn episode 75 we take a look at the key issues facing civil society and philanthropy during the covid-19 pandemic crisis and beyond. We explore the benefits of historical insight, highlight some of the main challenges civil society organisations face right now, and consider the most important questions to ask as we look ahead to the future. Including: The history of philanthropy and civil society in times of crisis Centralization- what can we learn from C18th Hamburg and WWI in the UK...
Cassie Robinson - philanthropy & civil society during the covid-19 pandemic & beyond
April 16, 2020 07:09 - 48 minutes - 27.7 MBIn episode 74, we talk to Cassie Robinson, Senior Head of the UK Portfolio at the National Lottery Community Fund, and a prominent writer and thinker about the intersection of tech, civil society and philanthropy. I a wide-ranging conversation against the backdrop of the covid-19 pandemic, we discussed: How is the Covid 19 pandemic affecting National Lottery Community Fund and the organisations it works with? What has happened so far that should give us hope? Will the short-term, en...
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - David Ainsworth, Catalyst
April 14, 2020 15:34 - 16 minutes - 9.48 MBThis is a conversation with David Ainsworth, from Catalyst.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Dan Fluskey, Institute of Fundraising
April 14, 2020 15:34 - 24 minutes - 13.9 MBThis is a conversation with Dan Fluskey, Head of Policy at the Institute of Fundraising.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Dan Sutch, CAST
April 14, 2020 15:33 - 22 minutes - 13 MBThis is a conversation with Dan Sutch, Director of CAST (Centre for Accelerating Social Technology)
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society 5
April 09, 2020 12:16 - 1 hour - 36.5 MBIn the fifth compilation episode in our series of conversation with leading voices across civil society during the covid-19 pandemic crisis, we talk to: Dan Sutch - Director of CAST (Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology) Dan Fluskey, Head of Policy, Chartered Institute of Fundraising David Ainsworth, Catalyst
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Carol Mack, Association of Charitable Foundations
April 06, 2020 14:38 - 15 minutes - 8.63 MBThis is an interview with Carol Mack, CEO of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF).
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Virginia Anderson, Bobath Scotland
April 06, 2020 14:38 - 14 minutes - 8.33 MBThis is an interview with Virginia Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Bobath Scotland.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Will Moy, FullFact
April 06, 2020 14:37 - 11 minutes - 6.76 MBThis is an interview with Will Moy, CEO of the UK's leading fact checking charity, FullFact.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Rich Collins, Sortified
April 06, 2020 14:36 - 12 minutes - 7.12 MBThis is an interview with Rich Collins from Sortified.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Holly Piper, CAF Venturesome
April 06, 2020 14:35 - 11 minutes - 6.6 MBThis is an interview with Holly Piper, Head of CAF Venturesome
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Nick Temple, Social Investment Business
April 06, 2020 14:35 - 13 minutes - 7.73 MBThis is the interview with Nick Temple, CEO of the Social Investment Business.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Savraj Kaur, United in Hammersmith & Fulham
April 06, 2020 11:10 - 7 minutes - 4.53 MBIn conversation with Savraj Kaur from United in Hammersmith & Fulham about the role they are playing as a place-based giving scheme in mobilising local generosity in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Rita Chadha, Small Charities Coalition
April 06, 2020 11:10 - 12 minutes - 7.12 MBIn conversation with Rita Chadha, CEO of the Small Charities Coalition about the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic is posing for small charities.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Clare Kiely, Comic Relief
April 06, 2020 11:10 - 13 minutes - 7.67 MBA conversation with Clare Kiely, Senior Investment partner at Comic Relief about their response as a grantmaker to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Rob Williamson Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
April 06, 2020 11:10 - 17 minutes - 10.2 MBIn conversation with Rob Williamson, CEO of the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland about their role in responding to the Covid-19 crisis in the North East of England.