New Research Centre For Charity Giving

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, marked the start of National Giving Week by announcing plans to establish a centre to lead research into philanthropy and charitable giving. The Centre is being created by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) in the Cabinet Office, in partnership with the Carnegie UK Trust, the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Scottish Executive (SE).

Initial funding from all four partners totals at least £2m. The OTS will invest £750,000 to set up the centre; the Carnegie UK Trust will invest at least £250,000 between now and 2011; the SE will put in £25,000 a year over three years; and ESRC will match fund these contributions. All are working together to interest more partners in coming on board.

Ed Miliband said: “We live in a society where many people give. Between three-fifths and three-quarters of us regularly give to charity, donating over £8billion a year. But we still know far too little about how people can best be motivated to give and why they choose to give in one way rather than another.

“High quality research and development is an essential component for the success of the third sector. If more people made use of the generous tax breaks available, this alone could boost charities’ income by up to £600m.”

Scotland’s Minister for Communities Malcolm Chisholm said: “Fundraising is the lifeblood of the charitable sector, and charities rely on public donations. Scotland has a strong tradition of philanthropy and the Scottish public always gives generously to charities and good causes.

“I am therefore pleased that the Executive has been able to support the new centre of excellence. This will help inform future policy and thinking in this area, helping to ensure that people continue to give and charities continue to benefit from donations.”