Understanding the Impact of Blended Giving

How DSC helped Benefact Group evaluate their charity support model, and uncover what’s really making a difference

In early 2025, Benefact Group asked DSC to help them answer an important question: Is our support model for charities really working?

Unlike traditional corporate giving, Benefact Group’s approach includes much more than funding. Their Charity Support Programme offers free tools, training, resources, events, and consultancy to help charities build confidence, capacity, and resilience.

To understand the impact of this blended support, Benefact Group wanted an independent, evidence-based impact report. That’s where we came in.

What they needed to know

Benefact Group had some big questions that they wanted to answer, including:

• Had their support helped improve confidence, skills, and fundraising ability?
• What changed for the individuals and organisations they supported?
• Were charities that used their programme more successful or sustainable?
• And crucially, what financial value did the programme generate?

How we approached it

To answer the questions above, DSC’s researchers designed a mixed-methods, beneficiary-focused evaluation, using:

• Online surveys to gather large-scale, anonymous feedback from programme users
• In-depth interviews to explore personal experiences and draw out qualitative insights
• Cost–benefit analysis to examine the financial value of Benefact Group’s wrap-around support

This combination of quantitative and qualitative data allowed us to explore not just what worked, but why.

What we found

The results were clear: Benefact Group’s blended giving model is delivering real, measurable impact for the charities it supports. Some headline findings included:

• 87% of charities said the programme helped them write better funding applications
• 88% accessed training they otherwise couldn’t afford
• 41% grew their professional networks through the programme
• 98% said they wanted corporate partners to offer more than just money
• On average, every £1 of support generated £37.50 in value, from time saved to improved organisational capacity

You can read the full impact report on Benefact Group’s website.

What we delivered

At the end of the project, we provided a set of practical tools that Benefact could use right away, and well into the future, including:

• A comprehensive evaluation report with findings, insights, and recommendations
• Ten case studies showcasing the real-life experiences of supported charities
• A collaborative presentation to review the results together
• A research framework to help Benefact keep monitoring impact over time
• Ongoing support turning findings into engaging, accessible content

How they used the findings

DSC’s findings helped Benefact Group make evidence-based decisions and confidently talk about the value of their Charity Support programme. They also launched a successful online campaign to share the findings, influence the sector, and inspire other funders to follow suit.

“It’s helped us plan our strategy for next year and beyond, selecting a mix of actions that will achieve our aims. The research also sparked valuable conversations in the corporate giving sector about how we can better support charities. Having solid metrics was key to this campaign.”
Catherine Cooper, Social Impact Manager, Benefact Group

What stuck with us

“My colleagues and I were impressed by the transformative impact of Benefact Group’s charity support programme. What stood out most was how clearly charities articulated the difference it made, from building confidence and developing skills, to feeling more connected and better equipped for the future. Many organisations also highlighted the programme’s influence on their financial health and long-term resilience. It’s a powerful reminder of the value of thoughtful, well-rounded support, and something we were proud to help shine a light on.”
Rhiannon Doherty, Head of Research, DSC

What Benefact said about working with DSC

“The team at DSC were expert, clear and practical in designing and undertaking our research. The results were not only highly comprehensive and well presented, they gave us a framework we’ll keep using to gain valuable insights going forward.”
Catherine Cooper, Social Impact Manager, Benefact Group

Need evidence like this for your charity?

Whether you’re after one-off research advice or regular evaluation work, DSC can help. With over 50 years’ experience supporting the charity sector, and a charity ourselves, we understand the challenges you’re facing.

We offer a wide range of services, including:

• Research design and advice
• Expert-led surveys, interviews, and focus groups
• Practical reports and accessible insights

Get in touch with our friendly research team at [email protected] to find out how we can help.

Click here to read about our other research projects.

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