Cliff-edges, counter-narratives, cats & dogs

Are you a cat or a dog person?

This classic ice-breaker question can reliably divide a conference room, office party...or be the deciding factor on whether you'll be getting a second date.

But does the answer to this question also provide insight into both the amount and frequency of your charity donations?

A whimsical yet remarkably thorough piece of social research on this very topic adds an "aha!" moment to our edition of Unconventional Wisdom, as Rachel Cross rounds up recent pearls of wisdom from across the sector...

The Grant Application Is Dead. What Comes Next?
Written and published by Tom Watson

The application process has formed the bedrock of charitable grant-making for decades. But the world is changing. This process was designed based on information scarcity: funders needed a structured mechanism to learn what organisations do, what they need, and whether they're credible. Enter generative AI, and we’re drowning in a soup of AI-written applications (soon to be) assessed by the very machines that wrote them.

So, is there another way? Tom proposes that there might be, through a method that removes the performative nature of the application form and centres it back on relationship.

Pet Ownership Ties as Indicators for Giving Behavior
Written by Ho-Chun Herbert Chang and published in Anthrozoös

Could whether you own a cat or a dog really be an indicator of your giving behaviour?! Leveraging a database of over 787 million(!) donation transactions to various non-profit organisations over 10 years, this extraordinary piece of research investigates how pet ownership connects to the amount, frequency, and diversity of people’s charitable donations.

The results might surprise you – but also offer nuanced insight into how pet ownership weaves into our personal, political and social identities.

When should you start to worry? Facing the reality of the cliff-edge 
Written by Katherine Nolan and published by Spark Somerset

Our sector is ‘the master of the miracle on a shoestring’. We are used to doing a lot with very little. But lately, we’ve watched hundreds of vital organisations not only strip back, but close for good. Katherine reports that 62% of Somerset’s not-for-profit organisations have six months or less of financial reserves.

But what does this six-month benchmark really mean, and when is it time to talk? Including some helpful encouragements, Katherine provides some take-home tips for organisations feeling the waves on the cliff-edge of closure.

Building narrative power: how we counter the anti-rights movement
Written by Christopher Harlock and published by Bond

Anti-rights actors are increasingly well funded, coordinated and skilled in the use of divisive tactics and misinformation. And the force by which such narratives are commandeered is reshaping our cultural perceptions of what is politically possible. While right-wing groups often target specific issues of gender, race and sexuality, their influence affects the wider progressive landscape. As these actiors gain traction, support for inclusive and equitable policies tends to decline.

One of the most troubling and fastest-growing threats to charities is legal action taken by right-wing activists, often scorning policies designed to protect marginalised or vulnerable communities. Christopher’s article delves into why right-wing groups have been so successful and how we can counteract: not only to win individual policy battles, but build back an all-round stronger narrative, using some of the right’s very own tactics.

Are UK and EU charities the same?
Published on Third Sector Network

Are you aware of just how distinctive our fundraising and giving culture is in the UK? People often assume that ‘charity’ works more or less the same everywhere, but this is far from the truth. I’ve experienced this myself when talking about my work to Italian friends: turns out that hyper-local charities, volunteer-run groups, public fundraising – even charity shops – aren't woven into the fabric of most EU societies.  

Differences across the Channel aren’t just technical or regulatory: they’re structural, cultural and often baked into national history. This article takes a fascinating and accessible look at some standout cultural differences between the charity-sphere in the UK and four EU nations, exploring different ways of organising social good.