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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.

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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?

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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?

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2 November 2017

I See...Oh: ICOs, crypto tokens, Swiss foundations & philanthropy
ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) are a huge boom industry based on blockchain technology. Yet, unbeknownst to many, theyare being made possible by using nonprofit structures. What implications could this have for philanthropy more widely?
2 November 2017

Automatic for the People: What might a philanthropy algorithm look like?
Artificial intelligence and algorithms are allowing us to harness the power of big data and automation in many aspects of life. Could philanthropic giving one day be wholly or partly automated, and how could we develop the algorithms to guide this?
18 October 2017

Charity 2037: 13 jobs we might all be doing in 20 years' time
Many believe that disruptive technologies will fundamentally change the nature of work in the next decade. What could this mean for those who work in charities and other social purpose organsations?

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Philanthropy, civil rights and movement capture
23 April 2019 - We talk to Megan Ming Francis about her recent paper and her work on the role of philanthropic funders in supporting the civil rights movement.
What is the unique role of philanthropic foundations?
9 April 2019 - Find out in our latest Giving Thought podcast as we chat to @PaulBRamsbottom from @wolfsonfdn
Philanthropy and journalism podcast
26 March 2019 - In our podcast with Sameer Padania, we ask why the media is looking to philanthropy as a source of funding and why philanthropic funders are interested in supporting journalism.

More podcasts from Giving Thought

Talks

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

GIVING THOUGHT LEAD

Rhodri Davies

Head of Policy

Rhodri leads Giving Thought, CAF’s 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