This week's blog looks at the findings from our latest report on how to measure public giving and some of the pitfalls and challenges in doing so. 

In our healthy audience report, we looked at 50 different health and disability conditions and the charities that work on the related cause. We were interested in examining the relationship between the number of people with a condition and the size of the largest charity supporting those affected.

This 2019 report is based on updated research first conducted five years ago, in early 2014. The report looks at the relationship between the number of people with a particular medical condition or disability and the size of the largest charity supporting those affected. One of the key questions we try to answer is whether the number of people who have a condition determines the size of the charity associated with it. We have extended the report to include research looking at public perceptions of progress made by health charities.

Key findings:

It's Christmas time and as per tradition we're giving away 12 more of our reports. They address key issues like lobbying, fundraising and trust, plus a couple of niche ones like Gift Aid and media spending. Enjoy!

We've been sending out quite a few free reports recently, so we thought we'd put them all in one convenient place. Here's a preview of what's available:

The Politics of Charities

What do the public think about charities having the right to lobby? And what does it mean to MPs and journalists for charities to 'be political'?

Global Digital Fundraising

Global communication has opened up new opportunities to engage with communities and key audiences. So what does this mean for non-profits in different environments?

Ben Roberts

Media coverage is one of the many barometers that we use to measure the current state of public engagement and support for the charity sector. In our latest nfpIntelligence figures, however, we can’t help but notice a concerning trend for the end of 2024: stagnancy.

Ben Roberts

We all love an underdog story. David besting Goliath, Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League win, or the most culturally significant of all, Rocky beating Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. While the villainous Drago is put through his paces by a team of well-equipped and well-funded Soviet scientists, Rocky meanwhile is chasing chickens, punching slabs of meat, and training in a run-down Philadelphia gym. You’re already humming Eye of the Tiger.

Ben Roberts

We’ve spoken at length about the Royal Family and their long history of charitable involvement. Following the passing of the Queen, we shared a retrospective of her record of charity patronage, and spoke about the direction we might expect the new king to take as he takes over or shares the various roles previously occupied by his mother.

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation

We have a clear ambition at the Wolfson Foundation to be a listening, responsive and open organisation, staffed by people who care deeply about supporting the sectors we serve.