Philanthropists are increasingly choosing Donor Advised Funds as a vehicle for their charitable giving. Whereas charitable trusts were once the default option for philanthropists, this is no longer the case. In this article, we explore the growth of Donor Advised Funds and how they compare to charitable trusts. The growth of Donor Advised Funds In the past, philanthropists typically pursued substantial long-term charitable giving through a charitable trust. Creating a charitable trust and registering it with the Charity Commission allowed philanthropists to gift capital from their accumulated ..read more

Nurses make a positive difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities each and every day, throughout the world. They deliver care to people from all walks of life, including to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Human Rights and Nursing Awards acknowledge and celebrate this contribution. The Human Rights and Nursing Awards recognise the work of nurses who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to promoting human rights. The Awards are presented annually to two nurses whose work exemplifies the essence of nursing as a moral practice and provides a source of inspira ..read more

The Charity Service is looking for a new Chair of Trustees to lead the organisation through at least the next three years, working closely with other Trustees and the Head of Philanthropy Services to grow charitable giving by major donors in the north of England. Although we are a small charity, we have ambitious plans. We believe there is an opportunity to create a service for philanthropists that looks and feels different to what is offered by more corporate providers based in London. The Chair of Trustees will play a critical role in achieving our ambitions. As well as providing leadership ..read more

In the third of a series of Trustee Q&A blogs, we speak to Paul Chorlton, who is a long-serving trustee of The Charity Service. Can you tell us about your background and professional career? In my role as the Chief Operating Officer at LOVE., I am focused on leading the financial and operational management of an internationally renowned creative agency. What initially interested you in becoming a trustee? I have been an organiser of The Manchester Ball for many years. This annual event has raised over £716,000 for local charities since 1988. Through my involvement with this event, I learnt ..read more

In the first of a series of Trustee Q&A blogs, we speak to Kathryn Graham, who has been a trustee of The Charity Service since 2016. Can you tell us about your background and professional career? As a solicitor specialising in trusts and estates, in addition to advising private individuals, I have advised charities and their trustees throughout my career and become familiar with the governance and legal issues they face. What initially interested you in becoming a trustee? Several of my clients had chosen to support charities during their lifetimes and in their wills, and I realised how v ..read more

Philanthropists face a myriad of choices when thinking about philanthropic strategy. One key question is: what type of organisation to support? Donors often gravitate towards larger charities. However, as we shall highlight in this article, donors may be missing out on the impact generated by small charities. As long as philanthropists take into account their distinctive nature, running a grants programme for small charities can be hugely satisfying and achieve enormous impact. So, what is a small charity? The NCVO classifies charities by income size and regards charities with an income of un ..read more

In 2006, Bill Gates famously said, “With great wealth comes great responsibility.” Back then, it felt like a prophetic statement, but almost two decades later increasing numbers of wealth owners share this view. As attitudes towards the origins, implications and applications of wealth are changing, we explore how wealth managers and financial advisors are responding. Over the past decade, we have seen more high-net-worth individuals motivated by a desire to make the world a better place. Millennials (born 1980-1995) and Gen Z (born 1996-2010), in particular, have a more progressive outlook on ..read more

The 8th March marks International Women’s Day each year. This annual event is a focal point in the women’s rights movement. It is a day to recognise women’s achievements and celebrate how far women have come in politics, society and economics. It is also a day to raise awareness of enduring inequalities and forge positive change for women. But with so many campaigns and charities promoting and aligning themselves with International Women’s Day, we ask: how can philanthropists with an interest in funding women’s rights help to bring about positive change? The origins of International Women’s Da ..read more

The Charity Service is pleased to report continued growth in our charitable grantmaking activity. In the nine months to December 2022, we have distributed over £1.1 million in funding. From our Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) we have distributed over £1 million to 47 charitable organisations within the UK and overseas. From our Greater Manchester and Chronicle Cinderella Home Fund grant programmes, we have supported 52 applications, including a number of multi-year applications, with approximately £130,000 in funding. The Charity Service is a trusted expert in charitable giving and provides Donor ..read more

A copy of The Charity Service’s latest available annual report and accounts can be downloaded here: Report of the Trustees and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022   ..read more