Highlighted stories

State of the Sector 2020: what should we be aiming for?

19th May, 2020 | By Naomi Chapman

Cause4 reflects on NPC's State of the Sector report 2020 and considers what the charity sector should be aiming for in the next report. 

The Value of Well-Judged Reserves

11th November, 2019 | By Naomi Chapman

Cause4 responds to recent negative press about the reserves of military charities by considering the many factors that should influence a charity's Reserves Policy.

Topics: 
Governance and Trustees
Fundraising strategy

So what will the impact of a hung parliament mean for the third sector?

10th July, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

There are many within the charitable sector feeling gloomy about the prospect of a hung parliament. The gloom-mongers predict bad times ahead and, sensing that decision-making will be slow and that policy will take time to emerge, anticipate that statutory funding for the third sector will be much less available. But are they missing the point?

Firstly, regardless of which party or combinations of party had formed or will form a Government,

Can the Big Society learn from Obama?

6th July, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

Much has been made of David Cameron’s big idea, the ‘Big Society. After 13 years of alleged government interference and state control Cameron seeks to create an era in which each of us stands up and helps address society’s problems by focussing upon our own communities.

What future for the Charitable Status of Independent Schools?

5th July, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

It is a widely known fact that independent schools, still referred to in many quarters as ‘public schools’, educate around 7% of pupils within the UK. It is also widely known that the majority, if not all, of these schools hold charitable status on grounds that the law until recently presumed that education was in itself a charitable activity.

What are the philanthropy motivations of billionaires?

4th July, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett recently invited the world’s billionaires to give away half their fortunes through an initiative called the Giving Pledge. All those on the Forbes 400 American Rich List have been asked to pledge half their net-worth either straightaway or else at their death. If everyone were to comply, this could raise US$600billion.

Creativity and intelligence from artsfunding.ning?

26th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

It has been great to see the establishment of the online community – www.artsfunding.ning.com - that is acting as hub for information about funding cuts and also as a forum for arts

Does the current fundraising climate require new talent?

26th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

We have been doing a lot of thinking recently about how to attract talent into careers in fundraising and development, and how to best arm people with the tools they need to succeed in delivering real value back to charities and social enterprises.

Four Square and Cause World – social media innovations for fundraising?

19th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

In the past 5 years Social Media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have revolutionised the way individuals interact. Companies now dedicate entire departments to utilising social media to interact with potential customers and more and more funding is looking at new ways of utilising online strategies.

The charity sector has far from avoided this inevitable move into the world of social media and with the growing influence of the Iphone and other smart mobiles it hasn't taken long for apps to become available that suit fundraisers.

Football - the impact on arts funding – what will it mean for London in 2012?

15th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

Philanthropist of the month - a more charitable outlook on the World Cup

14th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

This month the eyes of the world lie upon the very southern tip of Africa , upon a country whose history is fraught with woe and where millions of its people contend with the degradation of poverty and ill-health on a scale that defies belief.

Will the Big Society bring new ideas to support scaling up?

14th June, 2010 | By Cause4 staff

We read the recent New Philanthropy Capital paper - Scaling up for the Big Society with interest. The paper is a guide for civil servants in assessing the merits of charitable projects suitable for scaling up under the new Big Society brief for engaging charities in the delivery of key services.