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A question of ethics (the fundraiser Issue 8 August 2011)
In this article first published in the August issue of Fundraiser magazine, DSC's Head of Policy Jay Kennedy considers fundraising ethics in the context of recent ethical scandals in other parts of our society.
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Dangerous myths? (August 2011 Caritas Magazine)
DSC’s Head of STEAM Catherine Walker and Chief Executive Debra Allcock Tyler believe the application of market models to the charity sector is misguided and people don’t expect something back when they give.
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Time to rationalise the sector? (Issue 9 2011 Charity Insight)
Many believe there are too many charities and the current climate makes mergers inevitable. But what are the drawbacks – and are some mergers just takeovers in disguise? DSC's Chief Executive Debra Allcock Tyler takes part in a Charity Insight Magazine panel debate.
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Strategic partnership funding 'requires charities to promote government policy' (18 April 2011, Third Sector)
Scrutiny by Directory of Social Change concludes that conditions of the funding do not protect charities' independence or prevent government taking advantage of them. Read more [external website].
Big society is dead - long live big society (4 April 2011, Third Sector)
The big society the government has in mind might not be the one it will get, says says DSC Head of Sector Trends, Evidence, Analysis & Metrics (STEAM) Dr Catherine Walker. Read more [external website].
This Localism Bill is a gift to bureaucracy and the private sector (15 February 2011, Third Sector)
There will be more red tape when tendering, winning and reporting contracts, says DSC Chief Executive Debra Allcock Tyler in her Third Sector column. Read more [external website].
Eric Pickles' Localism Bill contains a Trojan horse (11 February 2011, guardian.co.uk)
The right to challenge is not a tool for community empowerment, it's a lever to accelerate privatisation in disguise, says DSC’s Head of Policy Jay Kennedy. Read more [external website].
DSC's Director of Policy and Research Ben Wittenberg and Chris Hanvey, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reflect on the independent might of trust funding and believe more can be done to share expertise
Download Fundamental powers (Caritas December 2010) (93.97 Kb)
Grant application: are you aiming for the right targets? (Engage magazine Autumn 2010 www.beengaged.org )
Applying for funding costs voluntary organisations hundreds of thousands of pounds and many man-hours. So why, asks Peter Davy, do so many applications fail to make an impact? DSC's Director of Policy and Research Ben Wittenberg comments.
Merging on the ridiculous (September 2010 Charity Times)
The prospect of fewer independently created charities as a result of state induced mergers, says DSC's Director of Policy and Research Ben Wittenberg, is as concerning as the last government’s drive to increase charitable delivery of public services
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How do you know what to cut, if you don’t know what you’re spending? (The LCVS Magazine by Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, Issue No. 168 Autumn 2010)
Jay Kennedy, DSC's Head of Policy talks about the lack of transparent data on government funding for the voluntary sector and the DSC Great Giving campaign.
Playing for the reserves (June/July 2010 Charity Times)
Financial growth should not be a measure of success for the sector, says Ben Wittenberg. For those in a commercial environment that’s what it has become. Yet, he warns, we are entering a time when growth is not going to be an option.
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Smooth sailing? (May 2010 CivilSociety.co.uk)
In an article by Fundraising magazine, DSC's Director of Policy and Research Ben Wittenberg and other experts discuss the issue of ineligible applications, and other challenges facing grantmakers in the current climate. [For more such features by the team at Fundraising, log on to CivilSociety.co.uk]
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Compact and the Government breach (February 2010 Charity Times)
An effective Compact can only ever be an aspiration if the sector to government relationship is undermined by contradictions in the details of the funding relationships that exist, warns Ben Wittenberg
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Beware the devil in the detail (November 2009 Professional Fundraising)
DSC Policy Officer Jay Kennedy offers tips on how to access, evaluate and improve grant terms and conditions.
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Trend watch: The First, Third and Voluntary Sectors (October 2009 Charity Times)
The complexity of the sector means it is impossible for it to speak with one voice. One solution is to create two “sectors”: split between big and small organisations. Ben Wittenberg investigates the logic of the “Third Sector”
The Review: Critical Conditions by Jay Kennedy (August 2009 Charity Times)
Rosie Chapman finds this DSC publication an extremely useful addition to the understanding of grant makers.
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Trend watch: Potential in tough times (April 2009 Charity Times)
There are two threats to current company giving, banks, who have given most to charity, are having the toughest time, and those who give as a marketing exercise. But the sector should not worry, argues Ben Wittenberg.
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The Devil’s in the detail (April 2009 Charity Times)
Jay Kennedy looks at the maze of terms and conditions within grants and offers a route through the complexity of clauses and sub-clauses.
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Trend watch: Sector research (February 2009 Charity Times)
Ben Wittenberg is concerned about the ineffective and exclusive nature of many third sector consultation processes, particularly on the Action Plan. He suggests the OTS should be doing more to lead by example
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Trend watch: Sector research (December 2008 Charity Times)
Ben Wittenberg asks whether it is time for charities to panic or more of a case of steady as you go as they see a reduction in charity resources while an increase in the need for their services.
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Trend watch: Sector research (October 2008 Charity Times)
Research reveals a skills gap in the sector which should be closed by more training and development. Sensible, says Ben Wittenberg, but also project funding is at the core of the skills challenges that parts of the sector face today.
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Trend watch: Sector research (June 2008 Charity Times)
Research in the voluntary sector is in a mess, with the majority being too general or too specific to do anyone any good. But there is a source of highly relevant research available, says Ben Wittenberg, we just need to tap into it
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Trend watch: Civil Society (April 2008 Charity Times)
It’s gone from the ‘VCS’, to the ‘third sector’, and now, increasingly, to ‘civil society’, but what’s in a name? As the sector’s definition is broadened, however, there is an inverse trend towards aggregation, says Ben Wittenberg
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Trend watch: Public service delivery (February 2008 Charity Times)
Can a level playing field ever be achieved between the third and private sectors in the commissioning of public services? No, says Ben Wittenberg, and even attempting to do so demonstrates a profound lack of understanding...
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Civil society assembly 'must not become sole sector voice’ (20 February 2008 Charity Finance)
The new civil society assembly being set up by the NCVO must be careful not to become the only sector voice that the government consults on key issues of public policy. Read more
Ministers must not set priorities for unclaimed cash ( January 9 2008 The Guardian)
It sounds like a good idea, but there are concerns the government is to determine what priorities the cash should be spent on. These are written into the bill: youth services, help for individuals in debt or who need financial advice, or on a "social investment wholesaler" (a sort of good causes investment fund)... says Jay Kennedy, DSC Policy Officer. Read more
Demonstrating impact (December 2007 Charity Times)
Is a new ‘charity inspectorate’, as proffered by New Philanthropy Capital’s Martin Brookes, the best way to demonstrate the sector’s effectiveness to funders? No, says Ben Wittenberg, and could in fact be a complete disaster
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Compact (Oct - Nov 2007 Charity Times)
With the Compact Commission in pretty dire straights, and evidence that government is not living up to its promises, Ben Wittenberg says there are some critical approaches needed if the Compact is to actually fulfil its potential
Government funding (September 2007 Charity Times)
Will the outsourcing of government funding to Capacitybuilders, Futurebuilders and the like actually improve the funding process? Yes it will, says Ben Wittenberg, as the current state of affairs is pretty dire
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Third sector mergers(July - Aug 2007 Charity Times)
Greater economies of scale, more purchasing power and reduced staffing costs are all viable arguments for smaller charities to merge; but, asks Ben Wittenberg, will society be worse off from the resulting lack of diversity and choice?
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Grant funding inequalities(June 2007 Charity Times)
Failure to disclose terms and conditions at the beginning of the funding process is reinforcing the unequal relationship between grant makers and grant recipients, argues Ben Wittenberg
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Trustee remuneration (April - May 2007 Charity Times)
Payment of trustees will not improve governance standards in the third sector, says Ben Wittenberg. It will create a financial crisis in which the largest charities offer benefits at the expense of smaller charities’ boards
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The future of funding for smaller VCOs (March 2007 Charity Times)
Is future funding for small and local voluntary and community organisations being threatened? Yes, says Ben Wittenberg, and more transparency is needed if we are to see the true impact of a reduction in local money
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Public service delivery isn’t for everyone (January - February 2007 Charity Times)
The government’s current policy agenda for the voluntary sector is focused almost entirely on those organisations delivering public services. But what about everyone else, asks Ben Wittenberg