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Giving Thought

THE THINK TANK FOR DOING GOOD

Understanding and reimagining civil society and how we support it.

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Giving thought

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

Giving Thought is our think tank. It’s where we consider the key challenges facing civil society globally, explore how and why people give and companies give, and test radical new ideas that could shape the future of charity.

We provide insight and stimulate debate that leads to changes in policy and practice which foster healthier civil society around the world. We explore trends in giving and how developments in society and technology will open up new opportunities for doing good.

giving thought themes

Why Civil Society Matters

Advocacy, rights, governance, independence, trust, campaigning. How do we strengthen the vital role of civil society within democracy?

Why does civil society matter?

Creating a Future of Doing Good

Artificial Intelligence, PhilTech, Blockchain, Algorithms, Internet of Things, Social Media, Virtual Reality... New social trends and developments in technology will transform the ways in which we help others.

How can we build a future of doing good?

How Giving Works

Data, regulation, giving trends, World Giving Index, science of giving, effective giving. Here we explore what makes giving tick by looking at the available evidence. This includes data about global trends in giving, insight from practice and findings from academic study.

Find out How Giving Works

Why Giving Matters

Philanthropy, Politics of giving, History of giving, Philosophy of giving, Inequality, Democracy. Is giving more important than ever in today’s world?

Latest comment from Giving Thought

15 January 2018

Millions Now Giving Will Never Die: Life Extension, Whole-Brain Emulation and Philanthropy
New developments in technology may make it possible for use to extend our lifespans well beyond their natural length- perhaps even indefinitely. What might this mean for philanthropy in the future, given how important a role death has played in shaping the way we give?
1 December 2017

Ledger Good Deeds Shine: Using blockchain to measure, record and predict social impact
One of the potentially transformative things about blockchain technology is that it can be used to record assets and value of all kinds. What might this mean for future efforts to measure and record social value? Could it even give rise to social impact prediction markets?
17 November 2017

Tech Support: Why should philanthropic funders care about disruptive technology and what to do about it?
This is an extended version of a speech given to the Association of Charitable Foundations annual conference 2017. It considers why foundations and other philanthropic funders should take heed of technological developments and how to relate them to their own work.

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Philanthropic Pledges
11 June 2019 - How successful has the Giving Pledge been over the last decade? We explore the controversial topic of philanthropic promises.
Giving done right
28 May 2019 - We talk to @philxbuchanan from @CEPData about his new book 'Giving done right: effective giving and making every dollar count' and discuss the current criticisms of philanthropy.
Notre-Dame: lessons for philanthropy
14 May 2019 - What lessons can we take from the recent surge of philanthropy in response to the fire at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris?

More podcasts from Giving Thought

Talks from Giving Thought

Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2018

Rhodri Davies discusses the choice for philanthropists is no longer whether to engage with technology, but how they do so.

NAVCA's 2018 Forging Community Conference

Rhodri Davies in the Revolutionaries Roundtable, speaking about the impact of emerging dispruptive technologies on charity.

CAF at Tech:UK Blockchain for Good Event May 2018

Rhodri Davies talks about the speed of technological change and how tech will benefit, and challenge, charity.

Giving Thought in the news

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Publications by GIVING THOUGHT

Machine-Made Goods: Charities, Philanthropy and Artificial Intelligence

This report discusses the profound implications Artificial Intelligence will for civil society and the work of charities.

This report discusses the profound...

CAF submission to House of Lords call for evidence on AI

This is CAF's submission to a call for evidence from the House of Lords Select committe on Artifical Intelligence (AI). We outline the work we have done in this area and how we think this technology will affect charities and donors.

This is CAF's submission to a call for...

Giving a Sense of Place: Philanthropy and the future of UK civic identity

In this report - part of the "Giving for the City" project - we look at the the role that philanthropy can play in towns and cities around the UK, and what needs to be done to build a new golden age of civic philanthropy in this country.

In this report - part of the "Giving for the...

Visit the Giving Thought publications library

Meet the Giving Thought team

Rhodri Davies

Head of Policy

Rhodri leads Giving Thought, our in-house think tank focusing on current and future issues affecting philanthropy and civil society. Rhodri has spent nearly a decade specialising in public policy around philanthropy and the work of charities, and has researched, written and presented on a wide range of topics. He has a first-class degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Oxford. Read more about Rhodri

E: givingthought@cafonline.org

@Rhodri_H_Davies