The Reed Foundation last week launched a pilot scheme to encourage philanthropy in the young.

24 pupils at the Dragon School in Oxford were given vouchers for £50 each by the Reed Foundation, to be donated to charities of the pupils choice on theBigGive.org.uk. Over the coming weeks, pupils will use the resources on The Big Give to carry out background research into their shortlisted charities. Each pupil will then decide which charity to donate their £50 voucher to.

The five pupils with the most impressive research projects will be given the opportunity to present information about their chosen charities to Alec Reed, with the possibility of further Reed Foundation funding being offered if any of them are persuasive enough!

Reed comments ‘I hope this scheme will be the first of many. I want to encourage more people to use their wealth to help inspire the next generation of philanthropists’

Anyone interested in giving in this way should contact Jon Brooks at the Big Give on jon.brooks@theBigGive.org.uk

With recent IMF forecasts predicting that the UK will slip deeper into recession in 2009 and 2010, the credit crunch shows no signs of easing off in the coming months. But what can grant-makers do to ensure that they are giving in a way that is both effective and sustainable?

Some would argue that at times like these, UK grant makers should stick together, sharing knowledge and experiences of recession wherever possible. The London funders’ recession response website, and in the US, the CoF’s Economic Xchange initiative, offer a great starting point for grant makers looking to benefit from shared knowledge and experience

Others may argue that sharing information and experiences in this way might actually put some foundations at a disadvantage. Within the sector, foundations vary so greatly in size and resources, that perhaps foundations are setting each other up to fail by sharing strategies which work for them but may not work for others.

On balance, it seems that pooling resources and exeriences to help one another survive the credit crunch is a sensible way to progress, but foundations should be wary about implementing new strategies without thorough consideration of their own circumstances.

In tough times, should grant makers stick together, or keep themselves to themselves?

In a bid to help foundations weather the storm of economic crisis, London Funders have launched a new section of their website focussed on helping foundations survive the credit crunch.

The resource was developed following a Feburary conference entitled ‘The Recession: We’re all in it together’, where London grant makers came together with voluntary organisations to discuss the way forward for London. It includes case studies, impact measurement and a forum for grant makers to share experiences.

View the website here.

The Charity Commission has appointed Professor Diana Leat to carry out research into the way UK trusts and foundations are adapting to the changing economic climate. Due for publication in June, the research will interview representatives of the UK’s largest grant-making trusts and foundations and will be part of a series of papers focusing on the recession.

This research runs alongside ACF’s survey of its members which will be ongoing over the next couple of months. ACF and the Charity commission have discussed their research, and intend that the two reports will be complementary.

Read the full story here at Philanthropy UK.

This research by Melinda Tuan describes and analyses eight approaches to integrating cost in measuring or estimating social value creation.

Impact measurement is becoming increasingly popular as the Third Sector adopts a more business-like approach to measuring success.

The research is enlightening and highlights the benefits and limitations of the featured approaches. However, those looking for a less detailed account of impact measurement may wish to read the Interview in the April edition of Alliance Magazine.

Click here for a pdf copy of the Measuring and/or estimating social value creation report.

One issue that will always be relevant for charitable Trusts and Foundations, regardless of location, is impact measurement.

The April edition of Alliance Magazine features a collection of interviews which focus on this very topic of measuring social value creation.

The article benefits from the expertise and opinions of individuals viewed as leading practitioners in the field of impact measurement, including those from the Acumen Fund, Center for High Impact Philanthropy and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Based around research conducted for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by Melinda Tuan, the article offers substantial insight into some of the different approaches to impact measurement.

Read the full article here at Alliance Magazine.

The latest report from the Foundation Center reveals that only two of the 100 largest charity foundations in America are planning to increase their giving this year.

In the UK, a report by the ACF has found most UK foundations aim to maintain their current levels of grant giving.

News stories are beginning to emerge that show endowments and grant making levels are being affected by the recession. A heavy reliance on investments and shares is forcing some foundations to use reserves to meet current grants.

However, Trust and Foundations remain the experts in giving, and giving effectively. Although accused of being old fashioned, many foundations appear to be tackling the recession with an innovative approach.

Last month we saw the Reed Foundation continue to double the value of their grants through matched and challenge funding. This week, news of a new and dynamic way of funding hits our shores from Hawaii.

As Suzi Leather pointed out in her Guardian article last week, “over the years the sector has consistently shown how straitened circumstances lead to innovation. ”

To what extent are Trusts and Foundations part of this trend?

 Organiser: Governance Magazine

Event: Trustee Exchange Conference 09

Date: 26/03/09

Venue: Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, London, W1

This conference aims to bring together trustees and senior staff interested in effective governance and provide an opportunity for trustees from a variety of organisationt to network face to face.

Cost: £228 – 516 depending on organisation

The Skoll foundation is awarding three year grants of over half a million pounds to seven entrepreneurs who are tackling the world’s most critical problems.

When discussing the value of unrestricted funds,  Sally Osberg, CEO of the Skoll Foundation said, “Unrestricted funding is particularly valuable against the current economic backdrop, since it provides these entrepreneurs with the flexibility they need to adapt to such difficult challenges.”

Read the full story here at Philanthropy UK