Finance Score: 6
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 13
  • Low unrestricted reserves: -2
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Future income +5
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +13
Overall GiG Score: 25 ?

INSTITUTE FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION RESEARCH

IVAR's mission:to support the development and sustainability of charities and other voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations through research, education and training.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • Fundraising costs are unusually low relative to funds raised
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • This charity is not recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid according to its latest published return
  • This charity only provides its support via other charities
  • One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services to the charity

Financial issues to consider:

  • Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/23£833£894£-62£27£207£2072.8120
31/03/22£805£865£-60£26£269£2693.7120
31/03/21£1,020£828£192£19£328£3284.8110
31/03/20£863£857£6£14£136£1361.9110
31/03/19£859£858£1£15£131£1311.8100
31/03/18£812£808£5£11£130£1301.990
31/03/17£746£746£0£6£126£126280
31/03/16£677£702£-25£6£126£1262.160
31/03/15£535£574£-38£14£150£1503.140
31/03/14£701£629£73£15£189£1873.650
31/03/13£586£545£41£15£116£1162.660
31/03/12£425£516£-91n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/11£750£830£-80£22£166£1512.260
31/03/10£757£795£-38£24£246£2263.460
31/03/09£631£532£99£20£283£2575.840
31/03/08£367£251£116n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/07*£188£120£68n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 3.2%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 3%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 21%
Highest pay band: £90,000-£100,000
Liabilities/Assets: 33%
Liabilities/Income: 12%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 100%
Reserves/Spending: 2.8 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 3 months
Quick Ratio: 1.7
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 18 years

www.ivar.org.uk

enquiries@ivar.org.uk

07551813188

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Education/Training
GiG Classification
  • Philanthropic intermediaries and volunteering
How it operates
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Northern Ireland, Scotland,
Who it helps
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
National Lottery Community Fund£412,000
Esmee Fairbairn£368,000
Tudor Trust£350,000
Pears Foundation£210,000
Garfield Weston Foundation£130,000
Co-Op Foundation£75,000
Paul Hamlyn Foundation£75,000
Lloyds Bank Foundation£50,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
The Joffe Trust - Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£1,000 05/05/2024
3
Contribution to Open and Trusting programme
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Evaluation Roundtable: supporting funders to respond to challenges, dilemmas and opportunities
£6,000 20/03/2024
12
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. This grant supports the development of an action research process to understand the community's needs ....more
Cripplegate Foundation - Grant To Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£1,000 03/01/2024
Open and Trusted grant making
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£5,000 04/09/2023
Contribution to IVAR's Open and Trusting Initiative
Sir George Martin Trust - Grant to IVAR
£2,000 29/06/2023
Core costs for Infrastructure & Third Sector Support
Peter Minet Trust - Grant to Institute of Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£3,000 22/06/2023
36
Open & Trusting Campaign
Mercer's Charitable Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£6,000 14/06/2023
36
Open and Trusting Grantmaking.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - UK Evaluation Roundtable: Trust-based learning
£5,000 30/05/2023
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. This grant will contribute towards IVAR’s core costs – in particular, the administration, ....more
William Grant Foundation - Open and Trusting Grant-making initiative
£15,000 18/05/2023
To support the further development and implementation of the Open and Trusting Grant-making initiative, including a programme of research, facilitating a community of practice amongst funders, and enabling charities to hold funders to account for ....more
National Lottery Community Fund - Core Funding & Connecting Health Communities (CHC)
£412,000 03/05/2023
Funding will be used to bring together health and care service users with local and national organisations such as charities and the NHS to ensure services meet local need. The project aims to develop care that is informed by the voice of those with ....more
Co-Op Foundation - Open and Trusting Grant Making Programme
£75,000 27/04/2023
Support over 3 years for the Open and Trusting Grant Making Programme.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (2 Years) award
£90,000 28/03/2023
24
Application for unrestricted core costs
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£18,000 30/01/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Supporting a thriving civil society
£10,000 18/01/2023
Core funding to provide research, evidence and learning to support organisations working for social change to make informed decisions and develop practical responses to the challenges they face.
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£5,000 23/08/2022
Contribution to the Open and Trusting Initiative
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Open and Trusting Grant-Making Initiative
£4,000 14/07/2022
To support IVAR's Open and Trusting Grant-Making initiative.
County Durham Community Foundation - Open and Trusting Grant-making Initiative
£5,000 23/06/2022
Open and Trusting Grant-making Initiative.
The Joffe Trust - IVAR
£2,000 20/05/2022
To support the Open and Trusting grantmaking initiative
Pears Foundation - Core Funding
£100,000 20/05/2022
24
Core Funding
William Grant Foundation - Open & Trusting grant-making and Evaluation Roundtable 2022
£3,500 21/04/2022
A general contribution in recognition of IVAR's work supporting the Open & Trusting grant-making community of practice and the Evaluation Roundtable for funders during 2022.
Cripplegate Foundation - Grant To Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£1,000 06/04/2022
Open and Trusting Initiative
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£50,000 14/03/2022
Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
Peter Minet Trust - Grant to Institute of Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£1,000 10/03/2022
12
Open & Trusting Campaign
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£40,000 12/11/2021
Contribution to core costs for core work
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - The Evaluation Roundtable
£4,000 21/07/2021
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. They use research to develop practical responses to the challenges faced by organisations and ....more
Pears Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£50,000 21/05/2021
Core Funding
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£20,000 18/05/2021
Towards unrestricted core costs Leading in Uncertainty Peer Support
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£20,000 29/04/2021
over 11 months as continuation funding towards the running costs of online peer support sessions for charity sector leaders
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Covid-19 Emergency Funding
£20,000 28/04/2021
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. They use research to develop practical responses to the challenges faced by organisations and create ....more
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - COVID19 Emergency Funding
£10,000 30/09/2020
3
Support to aid the organisation in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID19.
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research (COVID19 Grant)
£10,000 25/09/2020
6
over six months as continuation funding towards the running costs of peer support webinars for charity sector leaders in response to the Coronavirus outbreak
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£10,000 14/09/2020
6
Towards Project costs Towards creating and supporting safe spaces for stressed leaders to talk, exchange views and receive support and affirmation, and distilling what it heard to help develop appropriate ways of listening and supporting.
John Lyon's Charity - COVID-19 grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£4,500 21/04/2020
12
COVID-19 Response: Supporting Leaders
Pears Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£60,000 17/04/2020
12
Core funding and COVID19 Emergency Response Initiative
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - COVID19 Emergency Funding
£20,000 16/04/2020
3
Support to aid the organisation in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID19.
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research (COVID19 Grant)
£20,000 15/04/2020
6
over six months towards the running costs of peer support webinars for charity sector leaders in response to the Coronavirus outbreak
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£20,000 14/04/2020
6
Towards IVAR's COVID-19 emergency support offer to create a safe space for stressed charity leaders to talk, exchange views and receive support and affirmation and to distil this learning to help funders develop appropriate ways to listen and support
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£300,000 17/03/2020
60
over five years as continuation funding towards the core costs of an organisation which supports the sustainability of smaller organisations striving for social change
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£300,000 13/02/2020
60
Towards unrestricted core costs of an organisation that strengthens voluntary and community sector organisations and management using research, organisational capacity building and policy work.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Supporting a thriving civil society
£250,000 23/09/2019
60
Core funding to provide research, evidence and learning to support organisations working for social change to make informed decisions and develop practical responses to the challenges they face.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Helping to make tech imaginable and usable: Phase Two
£6,000 23/09/2019
10
To enhance and improve support and funding practices for the use of tech by small voluntary organisations.
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£6,000 27/08/2019
12
IVAR are developing two research studies that seek to further the sector’s knowledge of challenges and opportunities facing small charities. The first seeks to help to make technology imaginable and usable for small voluntary and community ....more
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£15,800 16/08/2019
12
over one year towards research into what Northumbria University's work on funding and commissioning in complexity means for voluntary and community sector organisations
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£6,000 14/08/2019
12
over one year towards the second phase of research with CAST into making tech imaginable and usable for small voluntary organisations
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£6,000 30/06/2019
12
Towards the project costs of a study into case studies of the use of technology by small organisations in the charity sector.
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£14,000 09/11/2018
12
To fund 2 research projects around digital and advocacy for small charities to further the sector's knowledge of challenges and opportunities facing small charities
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Shaping, changing and challenging practice
£5,000 11/10/2018
9
A contribution towards a research study on small charities and advocacy
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Evaluation Roundtable 2019
£3,000 11/10/2018
6
To support cross-funder learning through a fourth UK Evaluation Roundtable
National Lottery Community Fund - Small charities & advocacy
£10,000 05/10/2018
12
The project will carry out a research study into voluntary and community organisations. The aim is to engage service users and support the work being carried out by these groups.
The Baring Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£5,000 17/09/2018
To undertake a research study on small charities and advocacy.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Helping to make Tech imaginable/usable for small voluntary organisations
£7,000 03/08/2018
5
IVAR is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. This grant will support an exploratory study on how tech can be used to help make services relevant, accessible and efficient for small, ....more
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£7,000 09/07/2018
12
over one year towards an action research project looking at tech for small voluntary organisations
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£7,000 04/07/2018
6
Towards research into role of philanthropy into making tech imaginable and usable for small voluntary organisations
National Lottery Community Fund - Building Health Partnerships (BHP)
£273,000 11/05/2018
35
Building Health Partnerships (BHP)
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - UK Evaluation Roundtable (ERT)
£40,000 10/05/2018
28
IVAR is an independent charity that works closely with people and organisations striving for social change. This grant will support an exploratory study on how tech can be used to help make services relevant, accessible and efficient for small, ....more
Pears Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£58,125 12/12/2017
36
Pears #iwill Fund: Learning Partner
Cripplegate Foundation - Grant To Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£4,500 19/07/2017
Contribution to the costs of the Recession Watch Revisited
Pears Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£75,000 07/07/2017
36
Core funding
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Evaluation Roundtable 2017
£3,000 18/01/2017
9
A contribution towards IVAR's 2017 Evaluation Roundtable for funders
Power to Change - Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£5,000 20/12/2016
6
Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Contribution to the third cycle of the UK Evaluation Roundtable
£15,000 19/12/2016
15
Background research; coordination of convening for staff from 30-35 UK foundations; follow up support work and production of a practical resource to improve approaches to, and systems for, strategic learning within UK foundations and across their ....more
Pears Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£21,700 01/08/2016
24
NYSAF Evaluation
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£5,000 13/07/2016
12
To support phase two of a historical review of funding for ‘place-based’ initiatives.
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Charities and social investment
£10,000 19/08/2015
9
To part-fund a research project into the experiences of small and medium sized charities in relation to social investment
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Evaluation Round Table
£5,000 02/07/2015
The Evaluation Roundtable is an informal network of foundation leaders in evaluation that seeks to improve how foundations assess their performance and learn so that they can improve their results. IVAR leads the Roundtable in the UK and worked with ....more
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Evaluation Roundtable 2015
£3,000 12/06/2015
To support the running of IVAR's Evaluation Roundtable and allied activities in 2015
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Research on Place
£5,000 01/04/2015
To explore and understand the role foundations can and are playing in 'place=based' work.
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£3,500 24/03/2015
over one year towards a research project into place-based funding across the UK
Barrow Cadbury Trust - Evaluation of Barrow Cadbury Trust 2015
£19,200 21/01/2015
3
To evaluate the impact of the Trust's work
Tudor Trust - Grant to IVAR Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£275,000 14/01/2015
60
over five years as continuation funding towards the core costs of a charity which supports the sustainability of small organisations within the voluntary and community sector
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£325,000 05/01/2015
60
Towards unrestricted core costs of an organisation that strengthens voluntary and community sector organisations and management using action research.
Lankelly Chase Foundation - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
£129,000 26/11/2014
Core costs to support IVAR's operations
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£90,000 13/06/2012
Towards core costs to support the development and sustainability of voluntary organisations through research, training and education.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£16,000 06/09/2011
Towards Recession Watch, a realtime learning project for trusts and foundations.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Institute for Voluntary Action Research
£40,000 07/10/2009
24
Towards Unrestricted core costs Towards core costs and the director's salary.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)
Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 32-78
  • ANDRE DELANO CLARKE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Head Of Learning And Fund Design
  • ANNEESSA MAHMOOD Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Director Of Member Services
  • KAMNA MURALIDHARAN (Chair) Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Policy & Projects Officer
  • MICHAEL PITCHFORD Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Charity Manager
  • PALMELA WITTER Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Project Manager
  • ROSA NINELLA POWLOSKI Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Consultant
  • RUTH STEPHENS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Funding Manager
  • SAM BRIER Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Researcher
  • TIMOTHY EDWARD JONES Appointed: 2012, Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 30/05/2006, number: 1114403
  • Registered at Companies House on 02/02/2006, number: 05695711
Gift Aid
  • NOT registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Filing Record
17 returns made; AR07: 1 days late,
Main office

17 Oval Way
London
SE115RR

Objectives

1) TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN THE ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND OTHER NOT FOR PROFIT, VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATING THE USEFUL RESULTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC; AND2) TO PROMOTE THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY:(A) LIASING BETWEEN CHARITIES, VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER GROUPS ON RELEVANT ISSUES;(B) PROVIDING TRAINING, CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS ON SUBJECTS RELEVANT TO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR;(C) ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND ESTABLISHING PROJECTS OR POLICIES TO ADDRESS THEM; AND(D) PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE OPERATION OF, OR PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY, THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR MEANS CHARITIES AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NATIONAL

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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