The Library

Giving is driven by intensely personal attitudes. In the digital age we are blessed with access to vast amounts of information. On this page we list some resources that we have found helpful. Please let us know about any potential additions.

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Videos
Giving cash directly to the poor: Joy Sun explains why she helped to launch GiveDirectly - a charity that simply gives away money
The Generosity Experiment: Sasha Dichter of the Acumen Fund explains why he spent a month saying Yes to every request
The Why and How of Effective Giving: Peter Singer explains how to balance your emotional drivers against the evidence of where your giving can have the most impact
This is what the law can do: ClientEarth explains how the power of law can help to solve the climate crisis
Water Bear: Interactive streaming platform with high quality story telling videos dedicated to the future of our planet
What are the most important moral problems of our time: Engaging TED talk by Will Mcaskill
Books
Research
All the Lonely People: Loneliness in Later Life by Age UK : This report helps explain the circumstances associated with feeling lonely and what is known to work in supporting people to tackle feelings of persistent loneliness
Better Giving Studio: The Better Giving Studio is an initiative by the Gates foundation to share donor behavior research, spotlight innovative ideas, and support product development in collaboration with charitable giving platforms
Center for Theory of Change: - explanation of theory of change
Centre for Effective Altruism: CEA is a registered UK charity founded by Will McAskill and others to help disseminate the ideas expounded in his excellent book.
Charities & Administration costs: - report by Caroline Fiennes suggesting that charities spending more on overheads achieve more
Crisis Research: Multiple articles on homelessness
Effective Altruism Forum: All the posts on the Effective Altruism Forum (US)
EU Geological CO2 Storage Summary: A summary of the EU Geological CO2 storage potential based on the most recent European assessment
Examining the Current Policy Landscape of Carbon Management in Europe: Policy paper on why carbon management is a catalyst in meeting the climate challenge
Financial Tracking Service: provides data on the current state of funding of international humanitarian projects
Founders Pledge: is a global community of entrepreneurs finding and funding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems
Funding Trends 2021: Climate change mitigation philanthropy: Annual update by Climate Works on trends in philanthropic funding aimed at mitigating climate change
GiveWell: US site with short list of charities mainly in the developing world with evidence of impact
Guidance for successful tree planting initiatives: An objective look at how to create a successful tree planting programme
Homeless Link: Website with research into homelessness
Measuring and Mitigating Child Hunger in the UK by The Social Market Foundation: This report provides initial findings on the level of food insecurity children in the UK are experiencing, as well as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this insecurity
Microfinance misses its mark: Stanford Social Innovation review looks at the pluses and minuses of microfinance
Navigating the changing landscape of climate philanthropy: Research by Founders Pledge into which climate focused interventions are likely to be most effective
Open Philanthropy: Extensive source of research and charity recommendations (mainly US)
Planting trees can be one tool to fight climate change - if we do it right: Research illustrating the pitfalls and benefits of tree planting
Project Drawdown: Leading resource for climate solutions
Prospects for the true cost accounting of food systems: Evaluating food systems in a holistic way is paramount to their transformation. Recent initiatives show how true cost accounting can help achieve that transformation at policy, product, organisational, farm, and investment levels
Radical Empathy: An explanation of why we intuitively value interventions close to home more highly than those affecting people in distant lands that we will never meet and why that is not appropriate
Research Briefing: Youth Jobs Gap - Establishing the Employment Gap by Impetus: Published in April 2019, this report establishes an employment gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better-off peers
The Impact of COVID-19 Prison Lockdowns on Children by Dr Shona Minson: This report, drawing on research undertaken during the first national lockdown in the UK in 2020, highlights the issues faced by children whose parent was in prison during this time
What makes a good charity?: by New Philanthropy Capital
What role can forests play in tackling climate change: Research by Imperial College into impact of trees
Donor Advisers
Charities Aid Foundation: - the largest provider of charity accounts in the UK including Donor Advised Funds
I.G.Advisors: - consultancy that bridges the gap between fundraisers, businesses and philanthropists
Philanthropy Impact: - useful online resources mainly aimed at helping financial advisers
Prism the Gift Fund: - providers of Donor Advised Funds, can also advise on charity selection and administer foundations.
The Giving Department: - founded by Steve Wickham, advises family offices and several major grant makers and corporates on philanthropy selection
The Life You Can Save: Peter Singer's website with recommendations for charities with effective programmes (US focus). Also see book & TED talk).
Donor Platforms
Global Returns Project: - curated list of environmental charities
The Big Give: - UK leaders for online matched giving campaigns
The Funding Network: - hold regular group meetings (virtual or physical) at which three small charities pitch for funding. Founded by Fred Mulder CBE
Tythe: - curated portfolio of charities with focus on the environment and climate change
WhatImpact: - knowledge sharing, resource sharing and connectivity between donors and charities or social enterprises
Volunteering
Investors in Community: Site with UK volunteering opportunities
NCVO: This NCVO webpage has some useful information and links to external sources of volunteering opportunities.
Reach Volunteering: - UK based site that connects people with at least 3 years professional experience.
Volunteer Match: - Site that facilitates micro volunteering.
Posts by Giving is Great
Selection Education News

February 9, 2023

Environmental charities really can make a difference

It's easy to become disillusioned at the scale of the environmental crisis that we are facing and the seeming reluctance of governments to coordinate responses.…more

October 10, 2022

How much of my donation actually goes to charity?

If you are considering what charity you should donate to, this is probably the question you want to ask, but the answer should not drive…more

August 9, 2022

What are the tax benefits of donating to charity?

Donations to charity are tax deductible in most cases, so it's important to make full use of them. Most people have heard of Gift Aid.…more

June 17, 2022

Carbon Offsets alone are not enough

Every day, more people and organisations demonstrate their recognition of the climate crisis by committing to become 'Carbon Neutral'. The first and most important part…more

May 1, 2022

Which areas of philanthropy are most effective?

The text of this post is taken from an article on the Effective Altruism forum. It suggests that you can achieve the most impact by…more

April 5, 2022

Running out of time to save our planet

Although the latest IPCC report has a few encouraging data points, you can't get away from the overwhelming likelihood that, barring a miracle or an…more

April 3, 2022

What is the Disasters Emergency Committee?

The Disasters Emergency Committee ("DEC") is a registered UK charity that acts as an umbrella fund raising organisation for 15 large charities. It was originally…more

October 12, 2021

EQ Foundation is Money Marketing Charity Champion

We were delighted to win this award and the accompanying comments: "The judges were impressed by this submission for Charity Champion of the Year from…more

September 2, 2021

Effective charities and their impact

The best charities can be more than 100 times more effective than others so it pays to be selective. Giving is Great can help you…more

August 22, 2021

A Guide to Charity Volunteering

Helping others fulfils a deep need in our souls and usually results in a feeling of connection and self worth. There are tens of thousands…more

June 14, 2021

Tythe’s Climate Action Charity Portfolio

The G7 summit in Cornwall has helped to remind us that averting catastrophic climate change is a massive challenge, requiring concerted efforts by all of…more

May 3, 2021

Our Top Tips for Philanthropy

Here are some ideas to help you gain more satisfaction from your philanthropy and confidence that the causes you have selected are impactful. Engage your…more

April 26, 2021

Pros and Cons of Matched Giving

Double your donation is generally how the message goes. If you give £10 to a certain charity another party will add the same amount. Sounds…more

March 15, 2021

Making charitable bequests in Wills

Many people make bequests to charities in Wills, partly because it can be highly tax efficient but to make best use of these incentives there…more

January 21, 2021

Tythe launches with Environmental charity focus

Tythe is the latest initiative from the EQ Foundation - bringing a curated list of 9 highly effective Environmental charities together in one package and…more

January 17, 2021

What is Effective Altruism?

In this article we explain the basics of Effective Altruism, which seeks to combine the instincts of our hearts to support charitable causes with hard…more

November 17, 2020

How to become a Philanthropist

In this Blog we outline a strategy to help people who are new to philanthropy and for those who feel dissatisfied with the impact they…more

September 20, 2020

How to Select Charities

There are thousands of highly effective charities in the UK and so we've tried to make the Giving is Great search engine efficient for finding…more

February 22, 2020

Why we created Giving is Great

In 2018 I became increasingly frustrated that most of the organisations that we were supporting had been referred through contacts. I decided to try and…more

February 19, 2020

What is a Theory of Change?

ToC is a relatively new concept that helps to define how a programme or intervention will achieve the desired result. It involves a careful examination…more