Grant Seeking

I hear that Robert Pike at Social Partnership Marketing is publishing a Compendium Edition of Invisible Grantmakers this week.

I took a look at our local free newspaper the other day, before it went into the recycling. I was intrigued by one article in particular.

There has been quite a discussion in the sector recently about poor feedback from funders about failed bids, with some fundraisers demanding in rather highhanded tones that funders should always detail their reasons for rejection. This raises some interesting issues.

The new GuideStar Israel online database (www.guidestar.org.il) has just been launched. Approximately 29,000 Israeli non-profit organizations are currently included.

The Big Society idea sounds attractive for the voluntary sector, offering a bigger role in addressing social issues and maybe access to new funding. How then do we square this vision with the reality of funding cuts to the very organisations the government is seeking to work with and what can charities do about this threat?

Either I have too much time on my hands, or I am still looking for ways to avoid getting up on the scaffolding, and patching up and repainting the front of the house.

George Osborne MP's emergency Budget will clearly hit charities hard, with departmental budgets cut by up to 25% over four years.

I was researching The Gosling Foundation recently, and went to the Charity Commission website for a copy of their latest accounts.

With all the recent talk about trusts winding up and distributing their capital, it is heartening to know that there is a body of charitable institutions quietly prospering.

In June 2009, I posted a blog (Brian Burnie and the Burnie Family Charitable Trust) about the intention of Brian Burnie to sell his luxury N