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.
Tom Neill-Eagle
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
"Big Tech" won't save the voluntary sector
Lamenting the state of charity digital skills has long been a popular past time for the sector. Fortunately, in the past couple of years, it seems we've found a theoretical cure-all in the form of "Big Tech" corporate social responsibility. However, despite months of gesturing in
Danny Kruger’s 'Levelling up our communities' report is good. Here’s how we'd implement it.
Danny Kruger’s report on levelling up communities is a sensible blueprint. We've got some implementation suggestions.
46% of grants cost more than they're worth
Every month we speak to charities frustrated with the difficulties of grant applications and reporting for their existing grants. Some organisations have raised the question of whether particular grants were even worth it? Would it have been better to just not apply? To answer that, we've got some