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
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from civil society - Fran & Will Perrin, Indigo Trust
April 06, 2020 11:09 - 22 minutes - 13.1 MBA conversation with Fran and Will Perrin, founders and trustees of Indigo Trust, on why they have ramped up their grantmaking in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from Civil Society Part 4
March 31, 2020 08:53 - 42 minutes - 24.5 MBThis is the fourth in our series of conversations with people across civil society about the challenges presented by the coronavirus crisis and how they are responding. In this episode, we speak to: -Will Moy, CEO of Full Fact -Virginia Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Bobath Scotland Carol Mack, CEO of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from Civil Society Part 3
March 31, 2020 08:49 - 38 minutes - 21.9 MBThis is the third of our series of short conversations with people from across civil society during the coronavirus crisis. In this episode we talk to: -Nick Temple, CEO of the Social Investment Business -Holly Piper, Head of CAF Venturesome (and my colleague!) -Rich Collins, Creative Director of Sortified
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from Civil Society Part 2
March 27, 2020 14:14 - 34 minutes - 19.6 MBThis is the second in a series of "voices from civil society during the Covid-19 Pandemic". Featuring: -Clare Kiely, Senior Investment Partner at Comic Relief -Rita Chadha- CEO, Small Charities Coalition -Savraj Kaur, CEO, United in Hammersmith & Fulham
The Covid-19 Crisis: Voices from Civil Society Part 1
March 27, 2020 14:13 - 43 minutes - 25 MBIn response to the Covid-19 crisis and the potentially unprecedented challenges it brings for civil society and philanthropy, we have been speaking to a range of people across the sector to find out how the pandemic has affected them so far and how they are responding. In part one: Fran & Will Perrin, founders and trustees of Indigo Trust, explain why they recently announced they are going to increase their annual grantmaking significantly to help address the short term impacts of the cri...
Danny Sriskandarajah - Philanthropy, Inequality & Power in Global Civil Society
March 17, 2020 08:21 - 48 minutes - 27.7 MBIn episode 68 we talk to Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB about philanthropy, inequality and power in global civil society. Including: Philanthropy & Inequality What is the core role of philanthropy within society which differentiates it from either state or market provision? What should we make of arguments that philanthropy is a distraction from the need to focus on ensuring that the world’s elites are taxed appropriately, and may therefore be holding back efforts...
Jeff Bezos, Big Philanthropy & Climate Change
March 03, 2020 07:07 - 31 minutes - 17.9 MBIn episode 67 we look at the recent announcement by the world’s richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, that he is going to donate $10bn to tackle global climate issues. We ask: what do we know so far, what has the reaction been, and what does this story highlight about the key issues when it comes to philanthropy currently? Including: Does Bezos use of his own Instagram channel to make the announcement reflect a desire on part of big donors to control their own narrative, much as popul...
Fozia Irfan- Philanthropy, Equity, Power & Place
February 18, 2020 06:53 - 51 minutes - 29.7 MBIn episode 66, we talk to Fozia Irfan- CEO of the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation (and trustee of the Association of Charitable Foundations). We discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in the foundation and charity world; the challenges of power dynamics in philanthropy and the role of place. Including: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion What is the DEI Coalition? What is the difference between equality and equity, and what does this mean for funders and charities? Does the p...
The Law & Ethics of Donations- John Picton, University of Liverpool
February 04, 2020 07:07 - 56 minutes - 32.5 MBIn episode 65, we chat to John Picton from the Charity Law & Policy Unit at the University of Liverpool about charity law and the ethical and legal challenges surrounding certain kinds of charitable donations. Including: Charity Law What are some of the key principles of UK charity law? (e.g. public benefit, charitable threshold etc.) The “Dead Hand” & Cy Pres Why have some critics argued that perpetually endowed charitable institutions are problematic? What does legal theory have...
The Response to the Australian Bushfires
January 21, 2020 05:57 - 30 minutes - 17.5 MBIn episode 64, we explore the philanthropic response to the ongoing bushfires in Australia and what it highlights about philanthropy issues and trends. We also give take a look at some of the other top philanthropy stories in the news. The Aussie Bushfires: How does the philanthropic response to the Aussie bushfires compare to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire last year? Does it tell us anything about the differences between our response to man-made vs natural disasters, or disasters affec...
2020 Predictions for Philanthropy & Civil Society
January 07, 2020 07:03 - 38 minutes - 22 MBHappy New Year! In episode 63, we gaze into our crystal ball and proffer some predictions for what the first year of the new decade might hold for philanthropy and civil society. Including: Politics & Economics Greater UK political stability? (i.e. political landscape now fixed for 5 yrs) Increased or reduced division? (i.e. post-Brexit healing, or ongoing animosity?) Focus on service delivery rather than campaigning? International development & aid under fire? Localism and de...
Charity & Philanthropy in Literature
December 10, 2019 07:17 - 53 minutes - 30.8 MBIn episode 62, we chat to Andrew Rudd from the University of Exeter about representations of charity and philanthropy in literature and how literature and the humanities can inform practice. Including: Which famous authors and poets have written about charity issues? What are some of the main positive themes about charity & philanthropy that can we identify in literature? What are some of the key critical themes about charity & philanthropy that can we identify in literature? What hav...
Andrew Rudd- Charity & Philanthropy in Literature
December 10, 2019 07:17 - 53 minutes - 30.8 MBIn episode 62, we chat to Andrew Rudd from the University of Exeter about representations of charity and philanthropy in literature and how literature and the humanities can inform practice. Including: Which famous authors and poets have written about charity issues? What are some of the main positive themes about charity & philanthropy that can we identify in literature? What are some of the key critical themes about charity & philanthropy that can we identify in literature? What hav...
The ARNOVA 2019 conference: Reflections on Academia & Practice in Philanthropy and Civil Society
November 27, 2019 14:55 - 52 minutes - 29.9 MBIn episode 61, Rhod reports back on a recent trip to the 48th annual ARNOVA conference in San Diego - one of the main global events for philanthropy and non-profit researchers. Including: What were the key themes being discussed at the conference? What came up in the main plenary debate on “promises and perils of philanthropy in a polarized world?” Highlights from other paper sessions and debates, including: Findings on public trust Young people’s attitudes to charity representati...
Philanthropy, Diversity & Inclusion
November 12, 2019 06:54 - 59 minutes - 34.2 MBIn episode 60 we look at the relationship between philanthropy, diveristy and inclusion, and in particular at what we can learn from the historic role that philathropy has played in campaigns for social change about some of its strengths and weaknesses when it comes to driving greater diversity and inclusion. Including: Overcoming the ‘tyranny of the majority’: philanthropy and civil society plurality as a means of giving voice to minorities Is philanthropy particularly good at accept...
Beth Kanter - Nonprofit digital transformation & Artificial Intelligence
October 29, 2019 07:37 - 55 minutes - 31.6 MBIn episode 59 we talk to speaker, author and expert on all things non-profit digital, Beth Kanter, about the impact of technology on non-profits and the challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will bring. Including: Has social media changed the game for nonprofits in terms of how they communicate? Have some of these tools levelled the playing field between big and small (or well-known and obscure) organisations? How well-equipped are nonprofits to take advantage o...
Jim Minton - Place-based philanthropy in London
October 15, 2019 07:20 - 47 minutes - 27 MBIn episode 58 we talk to Jim Minton, CEO of Toynbee Hall- the UK's oldest university settlement and an East End of London institution that has also played a key role in wider social reforms. We discuss the role of local civil society organisations and the opportunities and challenges that come with place-based philanthropy. Including: The history of Toynbee Hall Are enough charities today playing a role as drivers of social reform? Have recent changes such as the Lobbying Act or the use...
Rose Longhurst - Participatory Philanthropy
September 23, 2019 15:47 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBIn episode 57, we talk to Rose Longhurst about participation in philanthropy and her experience of radical approaches to grantmaking with Edge Fund (and others). Including: What is Edge Fund, how did it come about, and what are its aims? Where does Edge Fund fit in the wider landscape of participatory grantmaking? How does its approach help to overcome some of the concerns about existing models of philanthropy? i.e. that they are undemocratic, that they fail to redistribute power, that ...
Tainted Donations
September 17, 2019 05:44 - 51 minutes - 29.5 MBIn episode 56 we take a deep dive into the issue of "tainted donations". Is some money "bad", and if so can it ever be turned to good uses through philanthropy? Including: Recent versions of the tainted donation issue: Epstein & MIT Media Lab, the Sacklers, The Presidents Club The history of tainted donations: mediaeval prostitutes, Rockefeller & Carnegie in the firing line, George Cadbury, George Bernard Shaw, William Booth What do we mean by tainted? In cases where there is no clear i...
Julia Unwin - Civil Society: Now & in the Future
September 03, 2019 08:17 - 54 minutes - 31.3 MBIn episode 55, we talk to Julia Unwin CBE, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Civil Society Futures, former CEO of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and prolific thinker and writer on issues affecting civil society. As part of a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss: What is the Civil Society Futures Inquiry & how did it come about? What is the PACT framework and how is it intended to guide civil society orgs in the future? There is a lot of interest at...
Effective Altruism
July 23, 2019 05:55 - 48 minutes - 27.8 MBIn episode 54, we take a look at Effective Altruism. Why has this approach to philanthropy based on utilitarian philosophy gained so many admirers - and so many critics - over the last few years? Including: -What is Effective Altruism (EA)? -How is it informing new approaches to philanthropy? -Why are so many tech philanthropists EA advocates? -Could the emergence of data-driven, AI approaches to philanthropy put EA in the driving seat? -What is the historical lineage of Utilit...
Structure and Philanthropy
July 09, 2019 05:55 - 55 minutes - 31.8 MBIn episode 53, we look at structure and philanthropy. Exploring how philanthropy and civil society has become structured over time, what the drivers for this are, and what new possibilities the future may hold. Including: The reformation and the dismantling of medieval catholic infrastructure for giving Urbanisation, poverty and associated philanthropy The charitable/philanthropic tradition vs the mutual/cooperative tradition in the UK Concerns about 'faction' and voluntary associati...
Philanthropy & Public Space
June 25, 2019 05:51 - 51 minutes - 29.3 MBIn episode 52, we take a look at the relationship between philanthropy and public space. How has philanthropy shaped our understanding of public space, and what role does public space play in driving philanthropy? Including: Philanthropy and rural public space The role of philanthropy and voluntary action in shaping the development of national parks in the UK and US The history of the National Trust and what it can teach us about the tension between preservation and access Urban parks...
Philanthropic Pledges
June 10, 2019 21:49 - 46 minutes - 26.7 MBIn episode 51, we explore philanthropic pledges: what are they, do they work and how have they been used to drive more and better giving? Including: Mackenzie Bezos’ recent decision to join the Giving Pledge has been widely reported. But how successful has this initiative been overall? Who are the notable signatories and the notable absences from the Giving Pledge? Why have some people not signed? Has the Giving Pledge shifted the level of giving by the ultra wealthy? Has it had any...
Phil Buchanan- Effective Giving & Being Positive About Philanthropy
May 28, 2019 08:31 - 53 minutes - 30.6 MBIn episode 50, we talk to Phil Buchanan- founding CEO of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and author of a new book: Giving Done Right: Effective Giving and Making Every Dollar Count. We discuss current debates about philanthropy and what we need to do to ensure a positive narrative about the value of giving in our society as we head into the future. Including: What is the core role of philanthropy within society which differentiates it from either state or market provision? A key...
Notre Dame: Lessons for Philanthropy
May 14, 2019 05:44 - 52 minutes - 30 MBIn episode 49, we explore some of the issues brought to light by the recent devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the immediate philanthropic response. Including: -Does the Notre Dame response demonstrate there is untapped philanthropic potential out there? -Why will people respond so readily to a damaged building, but ongoing efforts to address issues of human poverty and suffering remain hard to fundraise for? -Does this story illustrate that philanthropy is inher...
Megan Ming Francis- Philanthropy, Civil Rights & Movement Capture
April 23, 2019 07:01 - 44 minutes - 25.2 MBIn episode 48 we talk to Megan Ming Francis, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington, about her recent paper “The Price of Civil Rights: Black Lives, White Funding and Movement Capture” and her wider work on the role of philanthropic funders in supporting the civil rights movement. Including: Is “movement capture” something that reflects a deliberate desire on the part of funders to change the goals or strategic focus of grantees, or is it ...
Paul Ramsbottom- Foundations & Endowed Philanthropy
April 09, 2019 07:53 - 52 minutes - 30 MBIn episode 47 we talk to Paul Ramsbottom, CEO of the Wolfson Foundation, about foundations and endowed philanthropy. Including: What is the core role of philanthropy within society which differentiates it from either state or market provision? What is the particular role of foundations/endowed philanthropy in that mix? Is the ability to take a long-term view that comes with endowment better than the sense of urgency that comes with taking a spend-down approach, or are they just differen...
Sameer Padania - Philanthropy & Journalism
March 26, 2019 09:29 - 1 hour - 35.1 MBIn episode 46, we talk to Sameer Padania about Philanthropy & Journalism. We ask why the media is looking to philanthropy as a source of funding; why philanthropic funders are interested in supporting journalism; and what challenges and opportunities this might bring. Including: Why has journalism come to the attention of funders and philanthropists recently? How are funders and CSOs using journalism to further their causes? How many funders see journalism and a free press as an import...
Beth Breeze - Studying & Teaching Philanthropy
March 12, 2019 04:05 - 44 minutes - 25.2 MBIn episode 45, we chat to Beth Breeze- Director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent- about studying and teaching philanthropy as an academic discipline. Including: -Why is it important for philanthropy to be seen as a subject of academic study? -What does a philanthropy researcher actually do? -Does philanthropy suffer from being cross-disciplinary, so that it doesn’t fit neatly into traditional academic siloes? -How can the academic study of philanthropy effecti...
Women and Philanthropy
February 26, 2019 06:41 - 49 minutes - 28.4 MBIn episode 44, to celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th March, we take a look at “Women and Philanthropy”. Exploring famous female philanthropists past and present, the role that charitable work has played in the emancipation of women, and the ways in which philanthropy has been used as a tool to fight for women’s rights. Including Fascianting female philanthropists from history: Angela Burdett Coutts, Octavia Hill, Olivia Russell Sage, Beatrix Potter, Jenny Lind and Madam CJ W...
Philanthropy at the Movies (Oscars Special!)
February 12, 2019 06:54 - 43 minutes - 24.6 MBEpisode 43 is an Oscars special! We explore philanthropy at the movies: what films there are about philanthropy (if any), what insight they can offer, and some ideas for future films that could be made. Topics covered include: Why aren’t there any genuinely great portrayals of philanthropy or the big questions it raises on film? Fictional philanthropists in movies The philanthropist as plot device or cinematic shorthand Do comic book adaptations offer the most insightful portrayal of ...
Krystian Seibert - Criticism of philanthropy: why, how & where next?
January 29, 2019 09:10 - 1 hour - 37 MBIn episode 42 we chat to Krystian Seibert, an Industry Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. We discuss the current wave of critiques of philanthropy, why criticism is important, how to make that criticism constructive and what the response from policy and lawmakers should be. Including: How do we criticise ‘well’? Is some criticism in danger of ‘preaching to the converted’? To what extent does personal philosophy or ideology dictate how receptive you ar...
Vinay Nair - Charities, Technology & Storytelling
January 15, 2019 05:54 - 51 minutes - 29.3 MBIn episode 41 we chat to Vinay Nair, co-founder and CEO of social good tech startup Lightful about how charities can use technology to tell their stories more effectively, and some of the key opportunities and challenges. Topics covere: Why is storytelling important for charities? Has social media changed the game for charities in terms of how they communicate? Have some of these tools levelled the playing field between big and small (or well-known and obscure) organisations? Is there...
2018 End of Year Special (Part 2): Predictions for 2019
December 20, 2018 14:00 - 27 minutes - 15.8 MBIn part 2 of our bumper end of year special (episode 40), we make some predictions for what 2019 might hold... 2019 Predictions: Politics & Economics BREXIT (or not…?) General Election? UK voluntary reporting on SDGs Ongoing impact of austerity Local government funding and Local Authorities running out of money Populism & ongoing challenges for democracy Another global financial crash? Philanthropy & Civil Society More critiques of big philanthropy; general default...
2018 End of Year Special (Part 1): 2018 in review
December 20, 2018 13:56 - 39 minutes - 22.5 MBIn an end of year special, bumper 2-part episode 40, we look back over 2018 and ahead to 2019. In part 1, we review some of the biggest stories and themes affecting philanthropy and civil society over the year and look at how we got on with our predictions from the start of the year. Topics covered include: Stories and themes: Trust, power & accountability The Presidents Club Dinner scandal Safeguarding and international development The rise of networked social movements, Ne...
Philanthropy & Empathy
December 11, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutes - 26.5 MBIn episode 39 we look at the relationship between philanthropy and empathy. Including: -What does neuroscience tell us about the link between empathy and altruism? -The importance of physical proximity -Does empathy lead us to prioritise giving to those who are sufficiently “like us”, at the expense of others? -How do our unconscious biases affect our empathy? The identifiable victim bias and victim blaming. -Is empathy in tension with rationality when it comes to philanthropy? -...
Rob Reich - Philanthropy, Democracy & Inequality
November 27, 2018 09:04 - 50 minutes - 28.7 MBIn episode 38 we talk to Professor Rob Reich from Stanford University about his new book, Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How it Can Do Better and about his wider work exploring the political philosophy of philanthropy. In a wide-ranging conversation, we cover: -What motivated him to write the book? -Why has philanthropy been largely ignored as a subject of study by political philosophers and political theorists over the years? -Does he see his book as part of ...
Philanthropy & the Welfare State
November 13, 2018 09:34 - 36 minutes - 20.7 MBIn episode 37, we explore the relationship between philanthropy and the notion of a Welfare State. We look at the role philanthropy played in the origins of state welfare, what economics and other sciences can tell us about the relationship between the two, and how we should view the role of philanthropy in relation to the state today. Including: -The history of the back-and-forth relationship between philanthropy and state in the UK -Why did some think the birth of the Welfare State sho...
Philanthropy, Risk & Innovation
October 30, 2018 09:30 - 44 minutes - 25.5 MBIn episode 36, we look at the relationship between risk, innovation and philanthropy. The ability to take risks and innovate is often claimed to be on of the key strengths of philanthropy, but is this really true? How does philanthropy innovate? Why can it take risks? And what makes it different to state or private sector approaches? Topics we cover include: - What kinds of risk can philanthropy take? -Why is it able to take these risks? -Does philanthropy find innovative new ways ...
Philanthropy & Religion
October 16, 2018 08:19 - 37 minutes - 21.3 MBIn episode 35, we look at the the relationship between religion, faith and philanthropy. Including: 1) Faith as a factor in individual giving -Evidence from behavioural science -The role of places of worship in bring diverse communities together and making people aware of issues -Religious identity, communities of purpose and giving circles -Religious obligations to give: tithing, Tzedakah and Zakat 2) Organised religion and the evolution of charity -1601 Statute of Cha...
Connie Gallippi - Cryptophilanthropy & Blockchain
October 02, 2018 06:53 - 51 minutes - 29.4 MBIn episode 34, Rhod chats to Connie Gallippi, Founder and CEO of the BitGive Foundation (the first US nonprofit to accept cryptocurrency donations). They discuss: - What is the potential for cryptophilanthropy? -What are some of the practical challenges to taking donations in cryptocurrency? -Is the current crypto bear market likely to result in more or fewer donations of crypto? -What is the wider potential of blockchain for the nonprofit sector? -What does radical transparency br...
Zoe Amar - Charities, Technology & Digital Transformation
September 18, 2018 07:23 - 41 minutes - 24 MBIn episode 33, Rhod chats to Zoe Amar about digital transformation in the charity and non-profit world, and how organisations can get to grips with the opportunities and challenges presented by new technology. Topics covered include: -What role does leadership play in digital transformation? -Is new technology perceived as too risky? How can we overcome this barrier? -How will our workplaces need to change in response to developments in tech? -Is there a danger of a "digital brain ...
Chris Willis Pickup - Charity Law, Regulation & Technology
September 04, 2018 11:38 - 57 minutes - 33.1 MBIn episode 32 we chat to Chris Willis Pickup, Partner at Taylor Vinters law firm and former Head of Litigation for the Charity Commission for England & Wales. charity law. We discuss a whole host of topics including: -What does charity law actually entail? -Defining charitable purposes -Dormant trusts, the Cy Pres doctrine and the National Fund -Campaigning and charity law -What is the role of a charity regulator? -Developing digital skills in charities -Charity RegTech -What...
Civil Society Strategy Special
August 10, 2018 15:51 - 38 minutes - 22.1 MBIn episode 31, we take a look through the recently published UK government Civil Society Strategy. We explore what it means for charities, businesses and communities in the UK, and how it fits in with wider global trends affecting civil society. Including: -The value of having a strategy -Broadening the definition of civil society -Place and civic philanthropy -Civic engagement and direct democracy -The importance of civil society campaigning -Welfare and the lines between state ...
Fran Perrin: Philanthropy & Transparency
July 17, 2018 08:52 - 41 minutes - 23.9 MBIn episode 30, Rhod chats to Fran Perrin- founder and Director of the Indigo Trust, founder of 360 Giving, former government policy advisor and member of the famously philanthropic Sainsbury family - about promoting transparency in philanthropy. Topics touched on include: -Why transparency is valuable -When transparency might not be such a good thing -Are foundations and philanthropists resistant to transparency? -How can technology help people and communities, and how can it cause h...
Ben Joakim & Paul Currion from Disberse: Philanthropy, International Aid and blockchain technology
July 03, 2018 08:30 - 45 minutes - 26.2 MBIn this episode (number 29), I chat to Ben Joakim and Paul Currion from Disberse - a fintech startup applying blockchain technology to the international development and aid sector. We had a wide-ranging chat about the challenges they have found in getting beyond the hype surrounding blockchain, and the genuine opportunities they believe the technology has to offer. Including: -Why blockchain? What can you do with a blockchain in an aid context that you can't do with another, simpler techno...
Ben Soskis - Learning from the history of philanthropy
June 26, 2018 08:36 - 1 hour - 40.5 MBIn episode 28, Rhod is joined by Ben Soskis, a Fellow at the Urban Institute and editor of HistPhil.org, for a wide-ranging (and quite long!) chat about the history of philanthropy and what it can teach us about the big challenges facing charities and donors today. They talked about all sorts of things, such as: -Why is studying the history of philanthropy worthwhile, and what are the limitations of historical comparison? -What are the most telling criticisms of philanthropy that have be...
Rachel Rank- Open Data, grantmaking and philanthropy
June 12, 2018 06:01 - 41 minutes - 23.9 MBIn episode 27 of the podcast Rhod chats to Rachel Rank, CEO of 360 Giving (www.threesixtygiving.org)- an initiative promoting and supporting an Open Data approach among UK grantmakers. Topics covered include: -The background and rationale to 360 Giving -What challenges has 360 Giving faced in terms of getting grantmakers to adopt an open data approach? -How are organisations using the information that is being published? -Where does the work of 360 Giving fit within the wider move to...
Philanthropy, Civil Society & Artificial Intelligence
May 22, 2018 09:49 - 34 minutes - 19.6 MBIn episode 26, Rhod looks at the impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to have on philanthropy and civil society. Topics covered include: -What are we talking about? We look at what AI actually means and why it has come to prominence in recent years, and consider 3 broad ways in which AI is going to affect civil society. -AI for Good: How is AI being put to use to deliver social and environmental benefits, and where could this go in the future? We touch on fascinating projects...