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Details of 'virtual' Centre of Excellence unveiled

Fundraising | Becky Slack | 1 Oct 2006

Details of the long-awaited Centre of Excellence for Charitable Giving were announced by the minister for the third sector Ed Miliband (pictured) last night.

'We want to encourage a greater culture of responsibility and giving. We need to think about how to combine the UK's culture of a strong welfare state with the US's culture of giving,' said Miliband.

The Centre, which will support high quality research aimed at gaining a better understanding of philanthropy, is to be funded by a £2m partnership between the government, the Scottish Executive, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Carnegie Trust.

The government is to provide £750,000 over the next three years, while the Carnegie Trust will put up at least £250,000 over five years, and the Scottish Executive will invest £25,000 a year for three years.  These contributions will be matched by ESRC. While it is hoped additional funding will be provided by the Big Lottery Fund, the government has not ruled out further funding once the three years have passed.

Richard Harries, head of the volunteering and charitable giving unit at the Office of the Third Sector, said much depended on the progress of the Centre. 'The funding from all the organisations is being staggered over a five-year period. While the Centre's programme of activity has yet to be finalised, there is definitely potential for the government to provide more money in the future.'

The Centre, which is to be headed up by Professor Diana Leat as director of research, will work closely with academics, policy makers, donors and fundraisers. Its first task will be to undertake a consultation into what research is needed; then in early 2007, the ESRC will invite tenders for the contract to host the Centre, with a view to it opening in the summer.

Jeremy Holmes, chair of Carnegie's Creative Philanthropy Programme, said: 'Carnegie, the government and ESRC envisage a virtual centre comprising a consortium of research and development organisations with a proven track record of excellence. Such a consortium will ideally include international research partners. This is likely to involve a range of UK universitites and research organisations able to provide a network of research and development support for work across the country and internationally.'

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Directory: Big Lottery Fund | Office of the Third Sector