Individuals giving to charity
Over half of UK adults give to charity in an average month, contributing over £17 billion to charities annually. And it's not just about how much is given, but who to, and also why, that matters. Cat's involvement spans a number of ventures to measure and analyse individual giving and tax-efficient giving schemes over the years, for example, the annual UK Giving surveys commissioned by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) between 1999 -2006, the Giving Campaign 2000-2002, and the Giving Summit 2012.
On the international front Cat helped to develop the first World Giving Index report with Charities Aid Foundation, while on the home front she co-authored the seminal 'A Lot of Give' examining the UK's giving culture, published by Hodder & Stoughton.
In more recent years The Researchery has worked with City Philanthropy to look at how London's Millennial Generation prefers to give, and with Remember a Charity to examine the legacy market.
UK Legacy Fundraising
Commissioned by Remember a Charity campaign in 2019, three separate studies examine legacy giving over the last ten years to fundraising charities across the UK, with special interest reports on Scotland and Wales, including the effects of the recession and growth and innovations in the marketplace.
The overall UK report shows growth in the number of charities benefiting from legacies and reveals new insights into income growth, the research underlines the importance of growing the donor market and normalising legacy giving.
Scottish charities see rapid growth in legacy income
A special report on the legacy market in Scotland for Remember a Charity reveals A vibrant market with significant potential for growth.
Welsh charities are punching above their weight when it comes to legacies
A special report on the legacy market in Wales for Remember a Charity reveals that almost £20 million is being donated to the top legacy-earning charities headquartered in Wales annually, and highlights the challenges which legacy fundraisers in Wales face.
A Lot of Give: Trends in charitable giving for the 21st century
Published by Hodder & Stoughton back in 2002 this book remains a little classic. It contains a round up of the history, theories and realities of individual giving in the UK (including the who, what, where, when and why). Cat's chapter: "Altruism, guilt and the feel-good factor - why do people give to charity?". With 18 guest authors from across the sector, this book really has a lot of give!
A Lot of Give
More to Give
More to Give is a new two-part research project commissioned by City Philanthropy and carried out by CGAP at Cass in association with The Researchery's Cat Walker.
The first part of the research surveyed London's millennial employees in summer 2015, and reveals that there is a strong motivation amongst younger city employees to support the work of charities and community groups through giving and volunteering.
The second part of the research looked at London's new giving networks and highlights an opportunity to increase London’s future annual giving by £20m through donor-led networks such as BeyondMe, City Funding Network and BeMore that are growing in popularity. There are currently around 80 giving networks across the UK and Ireland, and the report surveyed in depth more than 100 members of networks located in, or connected with, London.
Is it possible to achieve a step change in individual giving in the UK?
With individual giving remaining remarkably stable over the last 20 years, it’s time for new thinking on the subject. Report written while Cat was Head of Sector Trends, Evidence, Analysis & Metrics at Directory of Social Change in response to the Giving Green paper.
World Giving Index 2010
Cat helped to develop the first World Giving Index in 2010 with the Charities Aid Foundation. Using data from Gallup’s Worldview World Poll the report looked at three different types of charitable behaviour – giving money, giving time and helping a stranger.
The study also found that being happy is more of an influence on giving money to charity than being wealthy.
Engaging young people in giving and charity
Conducted in partnership with JRF (and CAF) this report from 2002 was the first in-depth study to challenge the view that young people today don't give to charity and looks at how to engage them better.
The generation game: Is there really a generation gap in giving?
The Charities Aid Foundation's 2012 report - 'Mind the Gap' - proposed that the UK was facing a calamitous generational deficit in charitable giving which must be urgently addressed. Read Cat's examination of the evidence underlying this claim which highlights the dangers of (mis)interpreting data.