Fancy joining a fantastic community of current and recent philanthropy and fundraising students and all round charity enthusiasts and experts? We've got an informal chat about studying with us Kent* today at 5pm UK time. Sign up or just message me for the link www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philanthro...

If you're working in and around #philanthropy and #charities, at the University of Kent we're now recruiting for our MA in Philanthropic studies. It's distance learning that fits around your job.

We're online at 5pm on the 28th April if you want to meet: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philanthro...

This has just been published. I think it’s excellent. Analysis of long term trends and government policy. #volunteering

1/3 For those who find themselves in arguments about excessive lobbying by civil society, I noticed this in @nextwavef.bsky.social's excellent substack on the Food Foundation's latest report on the food industry:

Are you a small charity worrying about how to raise money when people’s budgets are so tight? Come ask my expert panel for advice and mention your charity on radio 4’s Money Box. [email protected] to put yourself forward

Good stuff from the always-interesting Mr Birch. Cash giving is in long-term decline, but CAF reckoned 7% of adults were still giving this way in 2021. Keep your coins, we want change... #giving #fundraising @breezephilanthropy.bsky.social there's a great story in here about the Roman baths at Bath

Without knowing the details, this isnt good, and presumably indicative of a contracting environment that is unsustainable. Relate struck me as an excellent federation lead body, but life is tough for these orgs. The members are separate and not in administration.

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

A loss to the sector, I reckon. Important charities scrutinise future candidates as fully as Fraser and previous potential appointments were. Ditto the appointments process.

There's a tool here to test whether your charity/nonprofit organisation is ready for AI. It's a bit quick/basic, and the insight it generates is just a line. But some might find it useful. altruistleague.com/readyforai/

As this place gets bigger (and it's lovely to see so many old friends from the other place), I'm reminded of the rule: 'You don’t need to go to every argument you are invited to.'

Media reporting that the National Citizen Service is to close: www.msn.com/en-gb/news/u...

Just publised, and free to access: The Routledge Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Philanthropy: www-taylorfrancis-com.chain.kent.ac.uk/books/oa-edi...

This is grim, if accurate. Poor accountability mechanisms remain an Achilles heel for the charity/nonprofit sector. www.nytimes.com/2024/10/17/n...

If you're thinking about doing a social science PhD and looking for funding, the ESRC-funded SEDARC scheme is now open. Happy to talk to anyone interested in #voluntarysector, #volunteering or #philanthropy related applications. www.kent.ac.uk/graduate-res...

Australia now has a National Strategy for Volunteering covering the next ten years, with an action plan for the next three. There's nothing especially new from a UK perspective, but its a good to-do list to kick start declining volunteering levels here. volunteeringstrategy.org.au/actionplan/?...

Asphalt Art: Painting a Better Urban Future popupcity.net/insights/asp...