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. 

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?

This is a presentation of our data on the public's opinion about charity spending. We also have a video of this presentation here, presented by Joe Saxton, with some great insight and explanation of what the data means for charities.

With elections in Scotland and Wales less than a year away – and Northern Ireland to follow in 2027 – now is a timely moment for charities to reflect on how politicians across the UK are engaging with the sector. As manifestos are drafted and campaigning begins to ramp up, it’s worth considering the current attitudes of devolved politicians. Recent surveys we conducted offer a revealing picture: Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland appear to lead the way when it comes to valuing and engaging with charities.

Figure 1: Attitudes towards charities

When I first started working in the charity sector, I had only a vague idea of what a charitable trust or foundation was. The names were often historic – usually a person long since deceased – and they seemed to sit quietly in the background, influential but invisible. I doubt I was alone in that confusion, but I wanted to find out for certain how the average person would get on explaining what these organisations are and  what they do.

What does the public know?

Tim Harrison-Byrne