Grantmaking
The Messy Middle: What UK Community Foundations Can Teach America
You might be well-endowed, but it’s what you do with it that matters.
Tom Neill-Eagle
Systems
Philanthropy’s Identity Crisis: Talking VC, Acting Procurement
In strategy sessions and on websites for foundations and philanthropists across the globe, you'll increasingly hear the language of Venture Capital investing. "Catalytic funding." "First-mover advantage." "Disruptive innovation." This isn't coincidence — it's a deliberate shift as philanthropy increasingly
7 (Mostly Terrible) Ideas to Shake Up Charity Funding
Right now, charity funding in the UK feels like watching a much-loved first car slowly fall apart. Bits are starting to fall off, it doesn't run quite as smoothly as it used to, and some of the parts have given up completely. But no one can afford a
An update on no-win, no-fee
We're not doing it anymore. OK, but what on earth are you talking about? Fair question. A few months ago, we wrote a couple of posts about offering an AI bid-writing tool for charities to use for grant applications on a no-win, no-fee basis. I guess you could
AI
Using AI to fix grant-making
Why we think grant-making needs to improve, how we think our platform can support that, and why the model we’re offering enables it.
AI
No-win, no-fee "fundraising"
Today we've made a big change to the pricing of our AI grant writer. We've moved towards a no-win, no-fee commission based model. But is this unethical or illegal?
AI
Paragraph Pollution: AI is (probably) greener than you typing on a laptop
When you use ChatGPT, are you worried about a potentially massive environmental cost? You probably shouldn't be. While it's a familiar worry, as it's something we applied to other new innovations like fast fashion or cryptocurrencies, we’d make the case that it’s
AI
Grant Me Serenity: Introducing our AI Grant Writer.
We've taught an AI to find and write grant applications, massively cutting the time needed for everyone involved, and potentially saving charities hundreds of millions of pounds per year.
Why Plinth?
As a new university term starts, it seems like a good time to reinvent ourselves. We’ve dyed our hair green, and we’re going to see if we can get a new name to catch on. But this isn’t just a phase. Our newfound identity, "Plinth,"
Local Government
HAF - the Sticking Plaster of the Future?
We all know that the Holiday Activity and Food Programme was hastily assembled to respond to a PR crisis. And it’s clearly not enough to solve deep-rooted issues of child poverty. But from the chaos emerged an extremely interesting model: * Trust in Local Authorities to manage the programme * A
Local Government
Searching outside the Council streetlight.
Council support can be unintentionally directed to those they have most contact with; not necessarily the people most in need.
Systems
Going multiplayer. What does a collaborative platform mean for charities?
When businesses work together, we call it collusion. It’s usually illegal. But for charities, it’s “collaboration”. Apparently, not working together is “damaging to communities”. Legally, the UK has a Government department dedicated to “promoting competition”. But the UK also has a Government department that explicitly advises: “Working together