Working with colleagues we have undertaken extensive research relating to philanthropic grant-making, and have used the findings to inform the discussion about how funders can increase their impact.
Over the years we have analysed more than 44,000 environmental grants, with a total value of more than £3.4 billion.
This research has given us a thorough understanding of the supply side of the philanthropic grants market. (See for example the first six reports below).
We have also studied the demand side of the market, running multiple surveys and research projects to assess capacity gaps in social movements. (Three examples are shown below). We have carried out comparative research in the UK, across Europe, in the United States, and in Israel.
We speak to civil society changemakers about the precise nature of the opportunities and barriers they face, and assess the role of good (and bad) grantmaking practice in supporting social movements.
We reflect these insights back to grantmakers, and in this way have deepened the dialogue between funders and the movements they support.
Much of our demand side research remains unpublished, since the findings would be helpful to organisations seeking to defend the status quo.
